Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, the 55th Chief of Engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, presented U.S. Senator Tom Carper of Delaware with the Gold de Fleury award on behalf of the Army Engineer Association during a ceremony today in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Carper, who currently serves as the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, was selected for his leadership in addressing the nation's water resources infrastructure needs.
Under his leadership, a bipartisan group of senators on the EPW Committee helped to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which included $17.1 billion for the Army Civil Works program that is funding studies and projects, maintaining existing infrastructure, and dredging channels in response to floods and coastal storms. Additionally, under his leadership, the EPW Committee drafted and passed the seventh consecutive biennial Water Resources Development Act in 2022.
“Senator Carper has dedicated his career toward taking care of people,” Spellmon said. “In both his 23 years of service in the Navy and his more than 46 years as a public servant, he has continued to fight for the safety, security and well-being of our nation.”
“I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition from the Army Corps of Engineers,” said Carper. “As Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with the Corps for years, supporting their vital work in Delaware and across our country. The Corps keeps our economy moving safely and efficiently, and I’m proud to help the Corps advance solutions to some of our most pressing challenges, including building resilient infrastructure to climate change.”
Carper joined the EPW committee in 2001 and has served as chairman since 2021. In that time, he has led efforts to address the nation’s critical water resources infrastructure needs and global efforts to combat climate change. These efforts encompass some of the more than 1,000 ongoing civil works projects conducted by USACE, projects primarily aimed at addressing coastal vulnerabilities, improving climate resiliency, restoring aquatic ecosystems and maintaining federal navigation channels infrastructure.
“It is my honor to present the Gold de Fleury award to a leader like Sen. Carper, whose experience, understanding, and perspective continue to support the growing USACE mission,” Spellmon said.
Each year the Gold de Fleury is awarded to one individual outside the Army Engineer Regiment whose contributions to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Army Engineer Regiment exemplify boldness, courage, and commitment to a strong national defense.
The Order of the de Fleury was established in 1779 in honor of Francois Louis Tesseidre de Fleury, a French engineer, who volunteered to serve during the American Revolution. There are four different levels of the award: steel, bronze, silver and gold, with gold being the most prestigious.
