USACE Joins the Blogosphere
DeDe Cordell
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is using 21st century technology to advance its goals of communicating transparently and building the public’s trust by blogging on its Web site. LTG Robert L. Van Antwerp, the 52nd Chief of Engineers and USACE Commanding General, ventured into the blogosphere in February 2008 with a post on Iraq reconstruction based on his observations from a trip to the region in January.
This is the way of the future. We should be out there, too, clearly and openly communicating with the American public every chance we get. |
The blogging has continued with topics ranging from the USACE partnerships with Native American communities to specific hot-button issues, such as releasing water from a Missouri River reservoir to compiling with the Endangered Species Act. “This is the way of the future,” Van Antwerp said. “We should be out there, too, clearly and openly communicating with the American public every chance we get.”
The blog, called “Corps-e-spondence,” includes really simple syndication, so readers can subscribe and automatically receive updates. Readers may also post questions and comments.
As the commander of the Nation’s leading public engineering agency, Van Antwerp plans to blog about the many missions within USACE’s purview, from water resources and flood risk management to military facilities construction for the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force at home and abroad.
The USACE public affairs team is identifying future communication opportunities using new media such as podcasting and developing a social networking site on the organization’s intranet. The Corps-e-spondence link can be found at https://eportal.usace.army.mil/sites/blog.
DEDE CORDELL is a Public Affairs Specialist with USACE Headquarters in Washington, DC. She holds a B.A. in communication studies from California State University, Sacramento. |
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