DVIDS – News – Pete Taylor leaves a lasting legacy to the Mobile District

MOBILE, Ala. – When he was a plebe at the United States Military Academy at West Point in the early 1980s, Pete Taylor never dreamed that his career and life would be where it is today.

His thoughts at the time were to serve in the military for five years and then leave and pursue a civilian career.

After a 25-year Army career and a 16-year civilian career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers later, Taylor retired as a USACE Mobile District Deputy of Programs and Project Management (DPPM) after more than 40 years of federal service. Mobile both on active duty as district commander and in his current position as top civilian leader.

“My plan was to complete my five-year obligation and become a citizen,” Taylor said. “But I had so much fun as a young officer that before I knew it, I was a middle-aged colonel. When I retired from the military, it was not in my plans to serve in the force as a civilian. But in a fortunate twist of fate, I rejoined the ranks as a civilian and was blessed to serve with the incredible Mobile team, truly my second family.”

Taylor retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel in 2007 after serving as commander of both the USACE Nashville and Mobile Districts. After retiring, Taylor returned to the Mobile District as a civilian and first served as Chief of Staff until 2012, when he assumed his current position as DPPM.

The contributions Taylor leaves behind to the Mobile District are phenomenal and his legacy, as both a military and civilian leader in the District, will be difficult to match.

Adding up the total dollars, Taylor’s contributions to the District in military, civilian programs and projects total more than $21 billion.

Col. Jeremy Chapman, Mobile District Commander, said the footprint Taylor leaves behind with his retirement will last for decades.

“Pete has consistently led all of our programs for nearly two decades since he became commander in 2004-2007,” Chapman said. “Under his leadership, the District has delivered more than $21 billion in military and civilian programs and projects in five states and Latin America. He has mentored many future leaders in USACE over the years, cementing his lasting legacy for decades after his retirement. We all wish him and his family the very best in their retirement.”

One of the future leaders of USACE who mentored Taylor in his days as a field officer in the Army was a young lieutenant named Daniel Hibner.

Brig. Gen. Hibner, commander of the USACE South Atlantic Division, said Taylor will be missed by both the USACE and the South Atlantic Division.

“Every time I see Pete Taylor, I see Major Taylor, the Executive Officer of the 65th Engineer Battalion, the battalion I joined as a second lieutenant in 1997,” Hibner said. “He was one of my first impressions of active duty field officers, and to this day he was one of the best I have ever worked with. So to join a team that Pete was on was nothing short of exciting for me. I was able to reconnect with Pete as Savannah District Commander and now as South Atlantic Division Commander, and he is as steadfast in his commitment to mission success and professionalism as he ever was. He will be greatly missed, but he will always be part of the USACE and the South Atlantic Division family.”

Taylor said his former position as Mobile District commander gave him a unique perspective as he returned to the district as chief of staff and as DPPM.

“Very good people see everything we do in the Mobile District,” Taylor said. “The work in support of our military, our many civilian work (navigation, disaster relief, hydropower, recreation and improving our ports), the work of the Regulatory Division to protect the environment while enabling sustainable development, and difference we make in Central and South America. So serving as the commander gave me a great insight into the district’s very extensive and diverse program.”

After his retirement, Taylor will be able to spend more time with his wife Kim, with whom he will celebrate his 40th anniversary in February. Taylor said he and his wife will travel to the West Coast for their grandson’s first birthday and will also travel to Antarctica.

Taylor said there is no doubt about what he will miss most about the Mobile District.

“It’s definitely the people,” Taylor said. “I have a second family…the men and women I see and talk to every day. I start every morning on the first floor by getting a cup of coffee and then I work my way up to the eighth floor, where I just pop in to say hello. I will miss my morning coffee walks.”

When told about the impact of his leadership during his time at the Mobile District and the legacy he leaves behind with more than $21 billion in projects and programs, Taylor said the credit goes to the team.

“It says we have an incredible team,” Taylor said. “Our motto ‘Mobile Delivers’ is not just a sentence, it is in our DNA. Our team takes genuine pride in meeting expectations…by leading the way within the South Atlantic Division and across the USACE. When Colonel Chapman and I visit members of Congress, we are constantly praised for the great work the district is doing and the difference we are making.”