ERDC University - Tobi Cox

Published Jan. 12, 2018
ERDC University is a professional development initiative of the Directorate of Human Capital. EU has two goals: provide USACE engineers and scientists the opportunity to serve as a member of an interdisciplinary research and development team working on real-world solutions; and transition technologies throughout USACE to strengthen the technical knowledge base.

ERDC University is a professional development initiative of the Directorate of Human Capital. EU has two goals: provide USACE engineers and scientists the opportunity to serve as a member of an interdisciplinary research and development team working on real-world solutions; and transition technologies throughout USACE to strengthen the technical knowledge base.

The decision to apply for the ERDC University (ERDC-U) program was an easy one for Theresa “Tobi” Cox.  Having learned about ERDC-U through her relationship with CERL, she saw the opportunity to gain additional knowledge and skills in utilizing the ERDC-developed Sustainment Management System (SMS) suite of tools.  As the Fort Worth District’s project manager for the Defense Logistics Agency and others, she recognized the benefits of enhancing her abilities to perform multiple tasks using SMS.

Cox was born and raised in South Dakota, earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska, and currently lives in Texas.
In summer 2012, after a tour in Afghanistan, she was assigned as project manager for the Air Force Sustainable Infrastructure Assessment – Phase 2 contract effort, which used the BUILDER SMS program for facility condition assessments (FCAs) utilizing seven contracts at multiple installations.  In 2015, Cox became project manager on a pilot project at Fort Hood, once again using the BUILDER SMS program for FCAs.  She began to better understand the depth of the BUILDER SMS software application for infrastructure assessments and how it could assist agencies at all levels when making decisions on maintaining building infrastructures. 

Cox works closely with Lance Marrano and CERL’s SMS Technical Center of Expertise, learning how to implement BUILDER SMS for new customers.  ERDC-U gave her the opportunity to work with ERDC’s Department of Public Works and apply BUILDER as a case study to assess its facilities.  Knowledge gained will be provided to ERDC leadership and to Army to assist in financial decisions on the sustainment, restoration and management of ERDC facilities and infrastructure.  In addition, multiple federal agencies outside USACE, such as the Department of Homeland Security, are either using or have expressed interest in learning more about the use of the SMS system.

Through ERDC-U, Cox gained technical knowledge to support the district’s role as the SMS National Production Center in accordance with the USACE Enterprise Program Management Plan.  As the NPC, Fort Worth District will support CERL’s SMS Technical Center of Expertise and other USACE districts in adopting SMS tools for various federal agencies.  As she relays the in-depth technical knowledge gained during her ERDC-U experience to others on her district team, they will be better prepared to advise potential customers and assist other districts functioning as project/program managers.  This will transfer some of CERL’s current responsibilities, allowing the lab to pursue additional research and development to deliver the next generation of innovations.

“ERDC-U is an excellent way to develop leaders, build relationships and transfer knowledge from ERDC to the districts in order to build a stronger USACE enterprise team,” she said.

ERDC-U Facilitator Antisa Webb, chief of the Technology, Knowledge and Outreach Division, agrees. 

“This is an exciting opportunity for participants to help shape the future of the Corps’ technical knowledge base,” Webb said.  “It is also an opportunity to become a leader in scientific and engineering technical areas that can be applied in the participant’s home organization, while building a collaborative partnership with ERDC. This is truly an investment in the future of the Corps.”


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