Inside the Castle

As the nation calls for faster, more resilient project delivery, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is reimagining one of its most essential public-facing missions: the Regulatory Program. In this episode of Inside the Castle, hosts Reagan Lauritzen and Amy Snively explore how USACE is actively implementing the “Build Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” (BINP) initiative across environmental permitting and regulatory oversight. Tunis McElwain, Deputy Chief, Operations and Regulatory Division at USACE Headquarters; Tom Walker, Chief of Regulatory Program at USACE Headquarters; and Daniel Elkins, a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow detailed to USACE, provide key perspectives on this transformation. They outline USACE’s national strategy to eliminate unnecessary administrative friction while upholding environmental stewardship; share how streamlined reviews, synchronized Section 408 and 404 authorities, and regional coordination are expediting critical infrastructure on the ground; and detail the digital revolution underway through the Regulatory Automation and Management Program (RAMP) and the national Regulatory Request System (RRS). From the history of RAMP and the direct benefits of the RRS public portal to concrete BINP regulatory reforms—such as nationwide categorical permissions, mitigation banking prioritizations, and automated permit self-verifications—the discussion highlights how modern tools and cultural shifts are delivering predictable, transparent, and decisive permitting outcomes for the American public.

Dredging serves as the critical, often unseen foundation of global trade, national defense, and supply chain resilience. In this episode of Inside the Castle, hosts Reagan Lauritzen and Amy Snively sit down with Ms. Erica Janocha, Dredging Program Manager at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Headquarters, to discuss how USACE is modernizing the way it delivers the Nation’s dredging mission. The conversation explores USACE’s shift toward a more coordinated, enterprise approach to dredging through the Dredging Evolution for Enterprise Production (DEEP) Team and future Enterprise Dredging Delivery Center. By leveraging consolidated buying power, innovative contracting strategies, standardized processes, and greater visibility across the national workload, USACE is working to reduce duplicative acquisition efforts, improve efficiency and predictability, strengthen industry competition, and deliver greater value for the taxpayer. The episode also explores the broader dredging mission—from balancing environmental and economic priorities to recapitalizing the federal dredging fleet—to ensure the Nation’s ports, harbors, and waterways remain reliable and ready to support commerce and national security.

How does the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) decide what to build, where to build it, and how to reduce water resource risks to our local communities? It all starts with Civil Works Planning. In this episode of “Inside the Castle,” we sit down with three leaders who are fundamentally modernizing this process: Mr. Eric Bush (Chief of Planning and Policy, USACE Headquarters), Mr. Joe Redican (Deputy Chief of Planning and Policy, USACE HQ), and Ms. Susan Werning (Deputy Chief, Planning Community of Practice, USACE Headquarters). Listeners will hear about the historic rollout of the new “RAPID” planning framework—which stands for Risk-Informed, Aligned, Proportional, Iterative, and Decisive—and how it streamlines feasibility studies to deliver water resources solutions years faster. We also celebrate a major milestone as Mr. Bush prepares for his retirement this November, reflecting on a career dedicated to environmental restoration, public safety and sustainable economic development, and planning excellence. Whether you are a local community partner, an engineering professional, or a taxpayer interested in how infrastructure is designed, join us to discover how USACE is delivering at the speed of relevance.

On the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Inside the Castle pauses to honor the nearly 3,000 precious lives lost and the unimaginable courage of the first responders who ran toward the danger. In this solemn episode, podcast hosts Reagan Lauritzen and Amy Snively talk with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Historian Dr. John Lonnquest and USACE Curator Eric Reinert to reflect on USACE’s rapid mobilization and the sacred duty of preserving that history. The discussion covers the critical, behind-the-scenes engineering efforts at the Pentagon and Ground Zero—from structural triage and environmental remediation to the painstaking debris recovery mission. The episode also highlights an incredible, lesser-known story of immediate response: amid the chaos, USACE boat crews from the Caven Point Marine Terminal in NJ shuttled thousands of stranded citizens across the Hudson River to safety, returning with critical fuel and supplies for the fireboats and emergency responders on station. Finally, the episode explores how the USACE Office of History has preserved these memories, featuring a selection of artifacts collected by the Office of History. These artifacts are now part of the “Steel and Stone: Engineering the Response to 9/11” exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army. To read more about USACE's response and other significant events in the organization's history, read "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: An Illustrated History, 1775-2025," and "Continuing the Mission: A History of the New York District from 1975-2005."

In this episode of "Inside the Castle," we are joined by Mr. Ryan A. Fisher, Executive Deputy for Civil and Emergency Operations, for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Drawing from his extensive experience—from the district level all the way to the Administration—Mr. Fisher provides his perspective on modernizing the agency to deliver its national missions more effectively. Listeners will hear about the "Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork" initiative, the critical role of trust and empowerment in executing projects, and the importance of creating a culture that embraces innovation. Plus, Mr. Fisher shares some exclusive breaking news about a significant milestone in his career. Join us to hear about the future of Civil Works, emergency response, and the commitment to delivering world-class engineering solutions for the nation.

In this edition we talk with US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Florence Kessel with the Caribbean District. Florence has been with USACE for 10 years and has spent the last two years helping stand up the newly formed Caribbean District. In this episode we will discuss her path into USACE, he passion for the work she does, and what she has learned about USACE over the past year.

In this special episode of the "Build Strong with Us" series, the hosts become the guests. Get to know the voices behind the microphone, Amanda Ray Marino and Warner Buckman, as they share their own unique journeys into and through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This episode offers an inside look at the diverse career paths and opportunities for growth within one of the nation's most impactful organizations.

In the third installment of the "Stone by Stone" series for the "Inside the Castle" podcast, we celebrate the achievements of some of the 2025 USACE National Award winners. In this episode, we interview two winners: Norfolk District's Matthew S. Karlinchak and Sacramento District's Roxanne B. Carlson. Mr. Karlinchak is one the USACE Program Managers of the Year for his work on expansion for Arlington National Cemetery. Ms. Carlson is the 2025 recipient Hard Hat of the Year, which embodies dedication to quality assurance and safety enforcement in construction projects. This episode highlights the diverse talents and contributions within the organization that these award winners embody.

From floodplains to the front lines, geospatial intelligence makes the map the mission. Inside the Castle sits down with Army Geospatial Center leaders George Ohanion and Randy Reynolds to show how the AGC delivers the data, tools, and training that keep communities safe and warfighters ready.

Partnership in action: Inside the Castle explores the Silver Jackets program with USACE’s Brandon Brummett and PA’s Tom Hughes—sharing how federal, state, and local teams unite to reduce flood risk, deliver better data, and turn good ideas into on-the-ground results.