Five employees of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley Division have been honored as part of the division’s annual awards ceremony.

The Ernest P. Blankenship Awards are one of the highest honors presented to MVD employees by the local commander. The awards were established in 1987, commemorating the longtime MVD executive assistant who died in 1973. Three Blankenship Awards are presented each year, with Duane Stagg receiving the Engineer/Scientist Award, Lexine Cool the Professional Award and Ann Laird the Administrative Award.

Stagg, a licensed civil engineer in the Business Technical Division, was recognized for his duties as part of the Corps’ Dam Safety Team. Cool, a program analyst in the Civil Works Integration Division, was honored for her participation in standardizing regional meetings and implementing improvements in her division. Laird, an executive assistant in the Programs Directorate, was recognized for management skills and professionalism.

The MVD Woman of the Year Award went to Beth Guynes for her support to the MVD commander and his staff on controversial regulatory matters, as well as for her support to the division’s six district regulatory offices.

Charles Barton received the Commander’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Equal Employment Opportunity for his efforts in recruiting, employing and developing minorities and women in increasing levels of responsibility.

Twenty-three employees, representing 580 years of federal service, received length of service certificates, ranging from 10 to 40 years.

The MVD oversees the St. Paul, Rock Island, St. Louis, Memphis, Vicksburg and New Orleans districts. It, along with the Corps’ Mississippi River Commission, are the top of the chain of command locally and are in a building on Walnut Street.