Brig. Gen. Michael J. Walsh, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Mississippi Valley Division, will outline the Corps’ 200-year vision for the Mississippi Valley Division Friday at noon as the keynote speaker at an engineering society luncheon at Vicksburg Auditorium.

Seven engineering societies in Vicksburg are planning weeklong events in honor of National Engineers Week, which runs through Saturday.

As MVD commander, Walsh is responsible for overseeing a $7.5 billion civil works program.

Walsh came to the MVD after serving in Baghdad, where he was the commander for the Corps Gulf Region Division.

MVD boundaries encompass 12 states and 370,000 square miles from the border of Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and its mission is to design and manage projects to aid in navigation and flood control.

Engineers and scientists will also be speaking to Vicksburg area and Jackson high schools during the week.