Welcome to SWF
Congratulations on joining our team! We are the Fort Worth District (SWF) of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
Welcome
Congratulations on accepting your new position with the Fort Worth District of the Southwest Division. As the onboarding process begins, you will find helpful resources and materials below. The onboarding process in divided into five phases based on your time in the position. Each phase will include essential actions that you and your supervisor will need to take, to ensure a smooth and complete onboarding experience. Please note that this site is specifically designed for those who do not yet have a Common Access Card (CAC). Once you receive your CAC, additional resources are located on Microsoft Teams. Once again, congratulations and welcome to the team!
History and Mission
The Fort Worth District (SWF) manages one of the largest Military Construction and Civil Works programs in the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), supporting 17 military installations, 25 lakes, three hydropower plants and 340 recreation areas.
Mission: The Fort Worth District provides vital public engineering services, in peace and war, to strengthen our Nation's security, energize the economy, and reduce risks from disasters.
Vision: A GREAT engineering force of highly disciplined people working with our partners through disciplined thought and action to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to the Nation's engineering challenges.
HISTORY & MISSION - US Army Corps of Engineers
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a worldwide organization that provides engineering services, environmental restoration, and construction support for a wide variety of civil and military projects. The Corps' primary civil mission is developing and managing the Nation's water resources. The Corps develops projects to reduce flood damage; improves navigation channels and harbors; protects wetlands; and preserves, safeguards, and enhances the environment. The Corps' primary military mission is providing the United States armed forces with modern facilities, at home and abroad; strengthening the Nation's defensive capability; and ensuring combat readiness. Additional missions of the Corps include managing federal real estate; assisting communities with emergency operations and recovery; and providing recreation opportunities. The Corps also manages major construction projects undertaken by other federal agencies to include the cleanup of Superfund sites for the EPA.
Campaign Plan
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is marching forward with a new Campaign Plan to transform the way we do business.
These are historic times in our Nation and in the world, and the Corps will play a pivotal role in helping shape America’s future.
The Corps will grow stronger and become a great organization by delivering superior performance, setting the standard for our profession, making a positive impact on the Nation and other nations, and building to last, as evidenced by the strength of our team — educated, trained, experienced, and certified professionals.
We will deliver superior performance every time through disciplined people, thought, and action. We will use the Campaign Plan to establish our priorities, focus our transformation initiatives, measure and guide our progress, and adapt to the needs of the future.
Our intent is for the Corps to be one disciplined team — in thought, word, and action — and to meet our commitments by saying what we will do, and doing what we say.
Leadership
Colonel Jonathan S. Stover
District Commander
Published Sept. 20, 2022
COL Jonathan S. Stover grew up in the small coastal community of Scarborough, Maine. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1997 from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
His first assignment was with the First Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas, where he served as a line platoon leader, assault and obstacle platoon leader, and company executive officer in the 91st Engineer Battalion, where he deployed to Bosnia/Herzegovina.
Following the Engineer Officer Advanced Course in 2001, has was assigned as the Brigade Adjutant and Assistant S3 Operations for the 130th Engineer Brigade. He took command of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, where he deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After command, COL Stover completed a tour with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, deploying three times to Iraq, and serving as a Project Manager, Resident Engineer, and Deputy District Commander.
Following his assignment with USACE, COL Stover served as the Director of Engineering for a special mission unit under U.S. Special Operations Command.
COL Stover took command of the 92nd Engineer Battalion (Construction), 20th Engineer Brigade, based in Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Following battalion command, he attended the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. His most recent assignment was as the Joint Operations Center Chief for U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany.
COL Stover is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic Course, Engineer Captain’s Career Course, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, the Command and General Staff College, SERE school, and the U.S. Army War College. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt University, a Master of Science degree in Construction Management from the University of Missouri-Rolla, a Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies from Carlisle. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Maine.
His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters. He is authorized to wear the Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge.
Major Josh Haynes
Deputy Commander
Originally from Maine 19 years in Army, 3rd USACE assignment
Eric W. Verwers
Deputy District Engineer for Programs and Project Management, Fort Worth
Published Sept. 20, 2022
Eric W. Verwers is the Deputy District Engineer for Programs and Project Management, Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He is responsible for the management of the District's Civil Works, Military Construction, Interagency and International services and Environmental Restoration programs. He was selected as the Fort Worth District DPM after completing a successful four year tenure as the first Director of the Southwestern Division’s, Regional Planning and Environmental Center. RPEC is responsible for preparing all planning and environmental components of civil, military and interagency missions. The RPEC organization combined the planning and environmental missions and staff from throughout the SWD region.
Mr. Verwers is a 32-year veteran of USACE and the Fort Worth District, having served in a variety of positions related to reimbursable services and planning/environmental functions. Notably, these include his tenure as Director of the Engineering Construction and Support Center from 2001 to 2011, which provided enterprise-level support to the Department of Homeland Security and other customers. This included leading the efforts in response to the Secure Fence Act of 2006 that resulted in rapid planning, design and construction of over 600 miles of tactical infrastructure on the Southwestern Border of the U.S. with Mexico. In 2011, Mr. Verwers deployed to Afghanistan to assist Transatlantic Division establish a forward office in Kabul. As the Regional Business Manager, he was responsible for integrating two Afghanistan districts with the Division headquarters.
Mr. Verwers began his USACE career as an environmental planner and managed interdisciplinary teams responsible for preparing environmental projects for military and civil works customers. This led directly to opportunities to establish relationships with other federal agencies for reimbursable support where he has leveraged customer focus, innovation and effective team leadership to repeatedly fulfill demanding assignments.
Mr. Verwers graduated from Texas Wesleyan University with a BS in Biology and emphases in Environmental and Business. His many honors include the Commissioner’s Medal, awarded by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Meritorious Civilian Service Award, Superior Civilian Service Award with bronze laurel leaf, Commander’s Service Medal, and the Bronze de Fleury Medal.
Social Media Resources
Phase 1
Within the first week of offical job acceptance
- Receive welcome email/packet
- Receive name and contact information of supervisor and sponsor
- Complete Onboarding paperwork from the Civilian Personnel Advisory Committee (CPAC) including W-4, Direct Deposit, and all required documents as instructed by CPAC
Civilian Creed
Phase 2
First Day
- Meet with supervisor/sponsor upon start of day (in-person or virtual)
- Attend brief of activities for the week (work schedule, locations, etc.)
- Attend new hire orientation
- Review USACE 101 Training slides (below)
- Learn how your position supports the organization and the Army's missions
Phase 3
Within the First Week - Introductions and Adminstrative Procedures
- Obtain Common Access Card (CAC) as soon as notified that personnel action is documented in the system
- Receive a computer and obtain network access, if applicable
- Ensure email address is valid and accessable
- Complete mandatory training (e.g., DoD Information Assurance (IA) Awareness Training in UPASS)
- Meet with appropriate leaders, department staff, colleagues and key personnel
- Attend initial performance planning meeting (review position description, work assignments, performance expectations, training and education requirements (e.g., Civilian Education System (CES) Foundation/Supervisor Development Course (SDC) and Individual Development Plan (IDP)) See the Required Training tab on the Onboarding Teams Channel once you have your CAC.
- Discuss key policies and general administrative procedures
- Discuss Bargaining Unit participation and meet union representative (for Bargaining Unit positions only)
Around the Fort Worth District
Phase 4
Within First 30 Days
- Attend in-brief with Director/Senior Leader
- Attend Career Program brief
- Take recommended DoD Performance Management and Appraisal Program (DPMAP) Training
- Review and finalize performance objectives with supervisor and sign performance plan. Receive counseling from senior rater
- Update profile in Army Career Tracker (ACT) and add new supervisor
- Set development goals for Individual Development Plan (IDP) with supervisor in ACT, which includes meeting Army Professional standards
- Identify and begin short and long term training requirements
- Complete 30-day new employee Onboarding and Acculturation (O&A) survey
Within First 90 Days
- Revisit and adjust performance standards and/or IDP as needed
- Seek performance feedback and provide training and job satisfaction to date
- Discuss developmental activities with supervisor
- Continue to receive training, understand internal systems, general operating practices, and obtain other information or skills required in the performance of your job
- Attend first quarterly performance discussion and counseling
Within First 180 Days
- Attend in-progress review and discuss formal performance feedback, review IDP, and career goals
Within First 270 Days
- Revisit and adjust performance standards and/or IDP as needed
- Attend quarterly performance discussion and counseling
Phase 5
Within the First Year Through Onboarding and Aculturation Completion
- Complete all onboarding requirements, including Civilian Education System (CES) requirements
- Participate in annual performance feedback discussion
- Provide feedback about the O&A program to supervisor
