Army honors former civilian and military engineer leaders during annual Castle Ball

ALEXANDRIA - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Army Engineer Association honored the contributions and careers of three former USACE leaders, including a renowned military leader of the nation's early atomic program, in an Aug. 7 ceremony during the annual Engineer Castle Ball in Alexandria, Virginia.

Lt. Gen. Leslie R. Groves, an Army engineer officer who commanded the Manhattan Project during World War II, posthumously received the Gold de Fleury Medal, the highest award for professional excellence in the Engineer Regiment.

Groves' historic role in America's early atomic program was the culmination of a long and accomplished Army career, which also included supervising rapid military construction efforts before and during the war, including the Pentagon, which USACE built in 16 months. Once he took command of the Manhattan Project, Groves oversaw site selection, acquisition, and construction of the facilities necessary for the development and production of the atomic bomb.

"Incredibly, in an era when most information still traveled by mail, the massive nationwide construction effort was orchestrated by Groves and his team in a small office in Washington, D.C.," said USACE Historian Dr. John Lonnquest. "Due to the Herculean efforts of the Army, industry, and scientific community, in August 1945, Groves and his project team successfully developed the nuclear weapons that were instrumental in ending World War II."

Groves' grandson, Richard (Dick) Groves, accepted the award on behalf of his late grandfather and highlighted the remarkable nature of overseeing the entire Manhattan Project, a 600,000-person enterprise, from an ordinary two-room office in Washington.

"The answer to the puzzle of the two-room headquarters for an army of 600,000 is the Corps of Engineers - its nationwide organization and leadership, its engineer talent and practice of decentralization, its systems and relationships, and its esprit," his grandson said. "Let me thank the Army Engineer Regiment on behalf of General Groves for this Gold de Fleury Medal. If he were here, I believe he would tell you the success of this project was owed in good measure to the Corps of Engineers."

Also during the Castle Ball, Dr. Christine Altendorf, who retired in 2024 as USACE's director of military programs, was inducted into the USACE Gallery of Distinguished Civilian Employees for her service to the nation.

Through her career in USACE and the broader government, Altendorf guided complex strategic and international missions, including helping transform Army installations throughout the Pacific, as USACE Chief of Staff Col. Aaron Cox noted during remarks. Altendorf was noted for how she "fostered a culture of collaboration, mentorship, and professional excellence," helping strengthen a generation of civilian leaders at USACE.

"When I think of my time in the Corps, I don't focus necessarily on the multitude of important projects we worked on, but I think of the people that I met, the friendships made, and the fun that has made my life so full," Altendorf said. "Through the stress and hard times, I knew I had a full family of USACE support."

Additionally, retired Col. Yvonne Prettyman-Beck, who came back from retirement to serve in a civilian capacity as USACE chief of staff in 2024, was honored in person as last year's Distinguished Civilian inductee, having been unable to attend the 2025 ball.

"Induction into the Headquarters USACE Gallery of Distinguished Civilians is a prestigious honor, legacy, and responsibility that I am proud to carry forward," she said during her remarks. She went on to credit the broader USACE team of leaders and behind-the-scenes professionals, who have "always answered the call" in service to the nation.

The evening overall was focused on the people who make up USACE and the Engineer Regiment, serving throughout the nation and the world. In his closing remarks to attendees, Lt. Gen. William H. "Butch" Graham, 56th Chief of Engineers and USACE commanding general, highlighted the seasoned counsel he and the leadership team receive from outgoing USACE Command Sergeant Major Douglas Galick: focus on people, always.

"What the Command Sergeant Major has taught all of us on this team - the Corps team, the Engineer Regiment team - is that it's all about the people. I get wrapped up in the engineering, the project management, the programming, and I continuously get grounded by a senior non-commission officer who reminds us that none of this gets done without the people."

ABOUT THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), headquartered in Washington, D.C., is one of the world's premier engineering and scientific research organizations. Stationed throughout the U.S. and around the world, the 34,000-plus USACE workforce includes military and civilian engineers, scientists, researchers and a multitude of other disciplines

and specialties all working together to engineer solutions for the nation's toughest challenges. The mission of USACE is to engineer solutions, with our partners, to secure the nation, strengthen the economy, and reduce disaster risk. For more information, visit https://www.usace.army.mil.

Additional information about the de Fleury Medal is available at https://armyengineer.com/de-fleury-medal/.