TTW Conference Speakers

Dr. Robert S. Spalding III
Brig Gen., U.S. Air Force (retired)

Rob Spalding is a national security policy strategist, and globally recognized for his knowledge of Chinese economic competition and influence, as well as for his ability to forecast global trends and develop innovative solutions. He has served in senior positions of strategy and diplomacy within the Defense and State Departments for more than 26 years, retiring as brigadier general. He was the chief architect for the Trump Administration’s widely praised National Security Strategy (NSS), and the Senior Director for Strategy to the President at the National Security Council.

Dr. Spalding has written extensively on national security matters. His book, STEALTH WAR: HOW CHINA TOOK OVER WHILE AMERICA’S ELITE SLEPT (Portfolio; 2019) is an executive summary of his almost decade-long work countering Chinese Communist Party influence. It has been translated into additional languages. His academic papers and editorial work are frequently published and cited, both nationally and internationally. His Air Power Journal article on America’s Two Air Forces is frequently used in the West Point curriculum. He has been interviewed about the economy and national security on FOX News, BBC, OAN and CNBC, as well as numerous radio and YouTube channels, both nationally and internationally.

Dr. Spalding is a skilled combat leader and a seasoned diplomat. Under Dr. Spalding’s leadership, the 509th Operations Group—the nation’s only B-2 Stealth Bomber unit—experienced unprecedented technological and operational advances. Dr. Spalding’s demonstrated acumen for solving complex technological issues to achieve operational success, was demonstrated when he led a low-cost rapid-integration project for a secure global communications capability in the B-2, achieving tremendous results at almost no cost to the government. As commander, he led forces in the air and on the ground in Libya and Iraq. He is a former China strategist for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, as well as having served as the senior defense official and defense attaché in Beijing. During the UUV Incident of 2016, Dr. Spalding averted a diplomatic crisis by negotiating with the Chinese PLA for the return of the UUV, without the aid of a translator.

Dr. Spalding’s relationship with business leaders, fostered during his time as a Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, allowed him to recommend pragmatic solutions to complex foreign policy and national security issues, now driving positive economic outcomes for the nation. Dr. Spalding’s groundbreaking work on competition in Secure 5G has reset the global environment for the next phase of the information age.

Dr. Spalding is an Olmsted Scholar, a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C., as well as a Senior Associate Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society of London. He has lectured globally, including engagements at European Cybersec 2019, KAS-ASPI, the Naval War College, National Defense University, Air War College, Columbia University, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and other Professional Military Educational institutions. Dr. Spalding holds a doctorate in economics and mathematics from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. He was a distinguished graduate of the Defense Language Institute in Monterey and speaks both Chinese Mandarin and Spanish.

John C. Driscoll
Director and Chief Executive Officer, Alabama State Port Authority

John C. Driscoll began serving as the new director and chief executive officer of the Alabama State Port Authority on June 1, 2020. Prior to joining the Port Authority, Mr. Driscoll was the Maritime Director at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, CA. At Oakland, John had operational and marketing oversight of one of the nation’s top 10 container seaports, and credited with improving that seaport’s operating efficiency, financial performance and community relations.

Mr. Driscoll holds over 27 years of global maritime industry experience. Prior to joining the Port of Oakland, Mr. Driscoll served as vice president of export sales for CMA CGM (America) LLC, a leading global container shipping group. His tenure at CMA and CGM included business development in both the U.S. and Caribbean Basin and developed pricing strategies for 19 liner services in the U.S. East/West trade routes. Mr. Driscoll started his career with Sea-Land Service and later joined Maersk Line successfully developing business operations in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

John Driscoll earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with an emphasis on Transportation and Marketing from the University of Maryland (College Park). He is a native of Bethesda, MD. John and his wife, Linda, have three children and reside in Mobile, Ala.

Jonathan W. Pote, PhD
Professor Emeritus, Mississippi State University

Jonathan Pote received his B.S. from Hendrix College, his M.S. from Oregon State University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas. He served on the faculty of Mississippi State University for 35 years. He has been the Director of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute, the President of the Universities Council on Water Resources, and the President of the National Institutes on Water Resources, where he gave congressional testimony. His specialty is Mississippi water use and conservation.

Charles L. Wax, PhD
Professor and State Climatologist Emeritus, Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University

Primary expertise is in weather and climate as it relates to environmental and economic activities, with special emphasis in agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry in the southern region. Served as Mississippi’s State Climatologist 1983-2012 . Served on and chaired the U.S.D.A.’s Southern Region Research Committee for Climatology and Meteorology in Agricultural Production, and served as President of the American Association of State Climatologists. Authored or co-authored 80+ publications on climatological, water resources, and environmental topics. Most recent research efforts have concerned capturing and holding excess rainfall from aquaculture ponds, agricultural fields, and rivers.

Chad Chancellor
Co-Founder/CEO, Next Move Group, LLC

While growing up in a small Mississippi town in 1991, Chad Chancellor had an experience that would chart the direction of his career. A Fortune 500 company laid off his father to move a manufacturing plant to China. From that day on, Chancellor became interested in economic development particularly in helping small to mid-sized companies and communities growth together.

Chancellor is the Co-Founder & CEO of Next Move Group, LLC. He is responsible for the implementing the company’s big picture mission of creating economic growth for small to mid-sized companies, communities, and nonprofit organizations.

Chancellor has led Next Move Group to securing more than 150 clients since founding in 2014. Next Move Group provides site selection consulting for small to mid-sized companies, executive search consulting for small to mid-sized communities & nonprofits, and offers economic development consulting for small to mid-sized communities & nonprofits. Some of Next Move Group’s most recognized clients include: World Trade Center of New Orleans, Polymer Logistics, Cheyenne LEADS (Wyoming), Schutt Sports, Kansas City Power & Light, Fibrebond, and the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana.

Chancellor, based in New Orleans, is a graduate of Mississippi State University. Additionally, he is an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Entrepreneur Accelerator program with Babson College, the nation’s #1 entrepreneurship college in America.

Colonel Jeremy Jiggs Chapman
Deputy Commander, Mississippi Valley Division; Secretary, Mississippi River Commission

Colonel Jeremy Jiggs Chapman assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District as its 54th Commander on June 28, 2021.

Chapman graduated and received his commission from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, in May 1998.

Col. Chapman assumed command of the Mobile District following his prior assignment as Deputy Commander of the Mississippi Valley Division, Vicksburg, Miss. Previous assignments include senior maneuver support trainer at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California; commander of the 2nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Bliss, Texas; command inspector general for the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss; and battalion executive and operations officer for the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Drum, New York.

His civilian education includes a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the United States Military Academy and a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, California. Chapman’s military education includes the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Missouri.

Chapman’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2 oak leaf clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (6 oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (3 oak leaf clusters), Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3 campaign stars), Humanitarian Service Medal, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge and Ranger Tab.

Captain LaDonn A. Allen
Commander, USCG Sector Mobile

Captain Allen has served in the U.S. Coast Guard for over 25 years. She assumed duties as Sector Commander, Coast Guard Sector Mobile on May 3, 2019. The Sector consists of 18 sub-units, including cutters, stations, Aids to Navigation Teams, and a Marine Safety Detachment, spread over four states – Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Georgia – with over 420 miles of coast and 1,900 miles of inland waterway. The Sector has 594 Active Duty, 206 Reserve, and 33 Civilian personnel. The Sector maintains over 4,200 aids to navigation, and annually conducts over 800 search and rescue cases, saving over 100 lives, assisting over 3,700 persons, and protecting millions of dollars in property each year. Additionally, the Sector carries out operations in support of Homeland Security and Law Enforcement.

She has conducted operations ashore at MSO Miami, MSO Mobile, and Sector Upper Mississippi River where she was Deputy Incident Commander and Planning Section Chief for 3 major Western River floods with a six billion dollar impact. She also served as Deputy Sector Jacksonville, where she participated in the implementation of Commercial Space flight and many firsts in Liquefied Natural Gas operations. Captain Allen’s staff assignments include two tours at the Seventh Coast Guard District in Miami, FL where she responded to three category 4 and 5 hurricanes, Training Center Yorktown, Yorktown, VA, where she was the Contingency Preparedness and Response Management School Chief, a joint billet at the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, CO, where she received Field Grade Officer of the Quarter for NORAD and U.S. Northern Command and Field Grade Officer of the Year for the Training and Exercise Directorate. CAPT Allen has been a National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) lead instructor for the Coast Guard throughout her career.

Captain Allen is a 1991 Graduate of the University of West Florida at Pensacola, FL, has earned a Master’s degree with honors in Homeland Security from American Military University, has attended Navy War College Joint Professional Military Education, completed the Canadian Security Studies Program in 2012 and holds an Executive Leadership Certificate from University of North Florida. Captain Allen is an Officer Candidate School graduate, having completed her underway training on the CGC BARBARA MABERTY. Captain Allen’s military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, three Commandant Letters of Commendation and numerous unit and service awards.

Captain Allen’s husband is Steve Allen, USAF (ret.), and they are the proud parents of Marina Skye.

Trent Kelly
U.S. Representative, Mississippi, First District

Mississippi Congressman Trent Kelly represents the First District of Mississippi. A native of Union, Mississippi, He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi and law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law. In 2010, he received his master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Trent has spent 35 years in the Mississippi Army National Guard as a Combat Engineer and is currently serving as a Major General. In 1990, he mobilized for Desert Storm as an Engineer Second Lieutenant. In 2005, he deployed as a Major to Iraq with the 155th Brigade as the Operations Officer of the 150th Engineer Battalion. From 2009 to 2010, he deployed as a Lieutenant Colonel to Iraq as the Battalion Commander of Task Force Knight of the 155th Brigade Combat Team and commanded over 670 troops from Mississippi, Ohio, and Kentucky. He has received two Bronze Stars, the Combat Action Badge, the Bronze, Silver, and Gold de Fleury medals, and numerous other federal and state awards for his service.

Trent has worked at McRae’s Department Store as a manager, maintained a private law practice in Saltillo, and served as Tupelo City Prosecutor and Forfeiture Attorney for North Mississippi Narcotics Unit. Prior to being elected to Congress, Trent served as a District Attorney for the 1st Circuit Judicial District (Lee, Pontotoc, Alcorn, Monroe, Itawamba, Prentiss, and Tishomingo) managing all felony cases. In Congress, Trent serves on the House Armed Services Committee, serving as the Ranking Member of the Intelligence and Special Operations subcommittee. Trent also serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Agriculture Committee, and the House Budget Committee. This is his fourth term. He and his wife live in Saltillo and have three children: John Forrest, Morgan and Jackson.

Michael Randle
Author and Economist

Michael Randle has been featured or quoted in more than 900 different media properties around the world and was described by Fred Barnes of Fox News as “an expert on the South’s economy.” Joe Hollingsworth, author of the book The Southern Advantage, wrote in the forward of that book, “Mike has to be recognized for his amazing knowledge of the South and his enthusiastic support for the Southern economic success story.” Randle founded his first business publication, The Birmingham Business Journal, in 1983 at the age of 27. Sold the Birmingham Business Journal and started Southern Business & Development in 1992 at age 36. SB&D remains the South’s most prominent business and economic development publication more than 25 years after it was launched. While publishing SB&D, Randle has visited over 1,200 cities and counties in the American South. Launched SB-D.com and SouthernAutoCorridor.com in the last 21 years. All sites are currently live on the World Wide Web and thriving. Launched RandleReport.com in November of 2010 and its readers currently average 14.3 pages and 16.2 minutes per session. Randle also founded the Southern Economic Development Roundtable@WaterColor in 2014, an invitation-only gathering of the finest minds in economic development in the South. Randle and his publications and three Web sites have been quoted and/or featured on CNN, AP, Time, ABC News, NBC News, Fox News, CNBC, MSNBC, PBS, The Huffington Post, Bloomberg, Yahoo, Al Jazeera, BBC, and in dozens of other electronic media and in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Business Week, Forbes, The New York Times and The Boston Globe. Randle and his wife Stacy recently moved to Montgomery, Ala. from Mountain Brook, Ala. They have five adult children scattered from the East Side of New York City to Birmingham and Montgomery, Ala.

Tami Reist
President/CEO, Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association

During her more than three decade long career in the tourism and travel industry, Tami has lived by the theme expressed by the famous American heroine Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” This theme is carried forth in all of her speaking engagements across the country and has had proven results in her professional accomplishments.

Tami is the President/CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA). Her duties include planning, implementing, directing, and evaluating all promotional programs as well as overall development of the tourism and travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the State of Alabama. The region currently generates more than $3.2 billion in travel expenditures on an annual basis. Tami’s responsibilities also include strengthening and expanding the membership base of AMLA, a not-for-profit organization that is supported by 500-plus members consisting of Chambers of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties, golf courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors, financial institutions, and individuals.

Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, and Winston. Tami is a board member for a number of tourism and travel-related and civic organizations including: Governor Appointee to the Scenic Byways Committee, Alabama Tourism Chair for the Appalachian Regional Commission, Southeast Tourism Society Legislative Council, the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, Alabama Travel Council, Alabama Council of Association Executives, Alabama Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, and numerous other local and state travel related groups.

Tami is also an instructor at the Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College in Dahlonega, GA. and has been a contributing presenter to the tourism and travel field of study at Mississippi State University. Among her many recognitions are the ATHENA Leadership Award from the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama Travel Council Partnership Award, the Southeast Tourism Society Dorothy Hardman Spirit Award, inductee into the Morgan County Leadership Hall of Fame and This is Alabama and Birmingham magazine’s Women Who Shape the State honoree. During her career, Tami has served as the President/CEO of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau; as Project Manager and General Manager of Courtyard by Marriott – Decatur, Ala.; Regional Manager for Hampton Inn and Country Inn & Suites by Carlson – Decatur and Florence, Ala.; and as General Manager and Project Coordinator of the Amberley Suite Hotel – Decatur, Ala.

Jason Burt
Cyber Security Advisor, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Department of Homeland Security

Jason Burt is a Cyber Security Advisor (CSA) with the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) assigned to Federal Region IV. CISA is the Nation’s risk advisor. The Agency protects the Nation’s critical infrastructure from physical and cyber threats by working with partners to defend against today’s threats and collaborating to build a more secure and resilient infrastructure for the future. CSAs are the front-facing cyber experts supporting regional operations capabilities.

Mr. Burt serves as the liaison and focal point for communications, coordination, and outreach. He promotes cyber preparedness and resiliency, incident response, risk mitigation and situational awareness, and manages major cyber engagements; championing cyber resilience to public and private sector partners. Region IV encompasses eight states, including Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Mr. Burt has been with the Department for eight years. Prior to becoming a CSA, he held positions as a Senior Watch Officer for CISA’s National Cyber Protection System (NCPS) Network Operation Center (NOC), as well as serving as a Network and Systems Administrator for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Additionally, Mr. Burt is also a retired Air Force Cyber Intelligence Officer. In this role, he provided direct support to Air Force Cyber Protection Teams tasked with defending key Air Force assets and resources against cyber threats.

The Honorable Robert B. Aderholt
U. S. House of Representatives,  Alabama

On January 3, 2019,  Congressman Robert B. Aderholt took the oath of office to serve his twelfth term representing Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District.

Aderholt is a member of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations, which has jurisdiction over funding the operation of the federal government. He serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science and supports greater transparency, accountability and oversight to the appropriations process. Aderholt also serves as a member of the Agriculture and Rural Development Subcommittee and the Defense Subcommittee. An advocate of fiscal responsibility, truth in budgeting and a federal government that operates within its means, Aderholt tries to bring common-sense solutions to the Appropriations Committee.

Aderholt also serves as a commission member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (commonly known as the Helsinki Commission).  Founded in 1976, the Helsinki Commission is comprised of 56 countries around the world that together monitors human rights in Europe and Central Asia.

A staunch supporter of his community, district and the state of Alabama, Aderholt believes the federal government serves a critical role in assisting state and local projects regarding economic development. He continues to support pro-growth initiatives that create jobs, strong immigration standards, and robust national security.

Prior to his election to Congress, Aderholt served as Assistant Legal Advisor to Governor Fob James as well as Municipal Judge for the city of Haleyville, Alabama. Educated through Alabama’s public school system, Aderholt went on to receive his B.A. from Birmingham Southern College and his J.D. from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.

Born on July 22, 1965, and raised in Alabama, Aderholt and his wife, Caroline, have their residence in Haleyville along with their daughter, Mary Elliott, and their son, Robert Hayes. When Congress is in session, his family joins him in Washington, D.C. area.

Nelson Sanchez
Operations Division Chief, Mobile District

Nelson is currently the Chief of Operations Division, Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which he manages over $170M worth of Operations and Maintenance services for Navigation, Hydropower, Natural Resources, Emergency Management, Flood Control and Environmental Stewardship for the States of Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and the pan handle of Florida. He graduated in 1985 from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. 

Nelson began his career with the Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, in 1985, He served as a Civil Engineer in Construction Division before transferring to Mobile District in 1991 into the Operations Division.  Nelson has played a vital role in the District’s navigation program, serving as Chief of the Navigation and Chief of Coastal Management Branch were after Hurricane Katrina he partnered with the US Coast Guard and Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association to develop a successful Hurricane Protocol that has been used as a model for other navigation recovery efforts after an hurricane disaster. In 2011 he was the Recovery Field Office Commander leading over 450 team members to perform recovery efforts in the aftermath of the devastating Tornados in Alabama on April 27, 2011 where they removed over 5M cubic yard of debris within 100 days.  

Among Nelson’s awards and recognition are Planning Team of the Year Award, South Atlantic Division Winner, 1998; South Atlantic Division Outstanding Planning Achievement Award for 2004; Commander’s Awards for Civilian Service, 1999, 2000 and 2002; and Superior Civilian Service Award 2005, the 2006 HENNAC Civil Engineer Distinction Awarded and Commander’s Awards for Civilian Service 2011. In 2017 received the Outstanding Public Agency Member of the Year from Society of American Military Engineers.

Justin Murphree
Operations Manager for the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, US Army Corps of Engineers

Justin is a native of Clarksdale, MS and he earned his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Mississippi State University.

Justin began his career in January of 1997 as a co-op student with Mobile District’s Construction Division at Columbus Air Force Base.  After graduation, he worked for 5 years as a Mechanical Engineer and Project Engineer at Redstone Arsenal, AL, where he was involved in large construction projects for agencies such as the FBI, Missile Defense Agency, Space and Missile Defense Command, and the Army.

In 2006, Justin moved back to Columbus, where he served as a Project Engineer at Columbus Air Force Base.  After obtaining his PE license in 2008, he became the Resident Engineer for the Corps of Engineers at Columbus AFB.  While the Resident Engineer, he administered contracts for the construction of the Mission Support Group building, Child Development Center, Fire Station, and various other projects on Columbus AFB.

In 2012, Justin transitioned over to Operations Division, where he became the Site Manager at the Bay Springs Site Office on the north end of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.  As the Site Manager, he managed the navigation, natural resources, and recreation business lines from Amory, MS to the north end of the project at Pickwick Lake.

In 2018, Justin became the Operations Project Manager for the waterway.  As the Operations Project Manager, Justin is responsible for the management of the entire waterway, which includes navigation, recreation, and wildlife mitigation business lines.

Lieutenant Colonel Joe M. Sahl
Commander and District Engineer, Nashville District

Lieutenant Colonel Joe M. Sahl assumed command of the Nashville District on July 1, 2021. As Commander and District Engineer, Lt. Col. Sahl manages the water resources development and navigable waterways operations for the Cumberland and Tennessee River basins covering 59,000 square miles, with 42 field offices touching seven states and a work force of over 700 employees. Before assuming command of the Nashville District, Lt. Col. Sahl served as the Deputy Commander of the Jacksonville District from May 2018 to June 2021.

Lt. Col. Sahl received his U.S. Army commission in 2004 from Officer Candidate School and has served in leadership and staff positions in Iraq, Europe, and multiple locations in the United States. Between 2004 and 2007, he was assigned to the 62nd Engineer Battalion, serving as a platoon leader, executive officer, and Assistant Operations Officer, including a deployment to Iraq. From 2007 until 2011, he was assigned to the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, serving as the Task Force Engineer and Assistant Operations Officer in the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 5th Brigade, before taking command of E Company in February of 2008. Following that command, he commanded C Company, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team. He trained and deployed the company in support of OIF 09-10 and then served as the Brigade Engineer until redeployment. From 2012 through 2014, Lt. Col. Sahl served as an Engineer Company and Brigade Engineer Observer/Coach/Trainer at the National Training Center.

From 2015 – 2016, Lt. Col. Sahl served in multiple roles in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District, focused primarily on district operations and Emergency Management, before deploying to Korea and Europe in 2016 as the commander of the 273rd Forward Engineer Support Team – Advanced (FEST-A). Upon redeployment, Lt. Col. Sahl was assigned to the 46th Engineer Battalion at Fort Polk, Louisiana where he served as the battalion Operations Officer and then the Executive Officer.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Lt. Col. Sahl is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University, earning his bachelor’s degree in 2000, He holds a master’s degree in geological engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology as well as a master’s degree in military studies from the Marine Corps University. He is a graduate of the Army Engineer officer Basic and Advanced Courses and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He is also a certified Project Management Professional.

Lt. Col. Sahl’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2), the Meritorious Service Medal (6), the Army Commendation Medal (4), the Army Achievement Medal (4), the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Army Superior Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal (with four campaign stars), the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Combat Action badge. Lt. Col. Sahl is also a recipient of the Army Engineer Association’s Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal.

Lt. Col. Sahl is married to Kathy and they are the proud parents of two sons, Joey and Cody.

Anthony Perkins
Operations Project Manager, Black Warrior-Tombigbee & Alabama River Waterway Project

Mr. Perkins serves as Operations Project Manager for the Black Warrior-Tombigbee & Alabama River Waterway Project.  His responsibilities include oversight of navigation channel maintenance, lock and dam operation and repair, recreation areas, and natural resource management programs.  Mr. Perkins  is responsible for management, operation, and maintenance of the Project; setting overall goals and objectives for one of the largest operations projects in the Corps of Engineers.  The Project encompasses 758 miles of navigable waterway, nine locks and dams, four natural resource management offices, and 62 Corps operated recreation areas.

Mr. Perkins holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Degree from Auburn University with over 30 years of project engineering experience.  A native of Alabama, he joined the Mobile District in February 2004, and has been in his current assignment since October 2018.  Prior assignments with the Corps of Engineers include serving as Navigation Manager and Chief, Lock and Dam Operations and Repair.  Prior to the Corps of Engineers, he worked in the private sector with U.S. Pipe & Foundry Company, Birmingham, Alabama.  He started his engineering career in 1990 as a mechanical/nuclear engineer with the Department of the Navy at the Charleston Naval Shipyard in Charleston, South Carolina.

Jerry Carl
U.S. House of Representatives, Alabama, First District

Congressman Jerry Carl is a native of Mobile, Alabama, and currently represents Alabama’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Jerry was sworn in on January 3rd, 2021. Jerry has been married to Tina, also a native of Mobile, for 39 years. Together, they have two children and two grandchildren. Jerry was raised by a single mother, so he learned the values of hard work and perseverance at an early age. This work ethic is what led him to start his first of many businesses at the age of 25.

Before his time in Congress, Jerry created and grew dozens of small businesses primarily dealing with home health care equipment and specialty pharmacies. He also has experience with timber management and real estate development. Until his son joined the Marines, Jerry never had any ambition of getting involved in politics. When his son returned from Afghanistan, Jerry decided it was time to do more for his community.
Jerry served two terms on the Mobile County Commission before running for Congress. During his time in public office, Jerry has fought to restore common sense to government, and he has been a consistent fighter for job creation, lower taxes, and family values. Jerry is a staunch defender of our fundamental constitutional rights, and he is committed to limiting the size and scope of the federal government by eliminating wasteful spending and doing away with burdensome rules and regulations.

Alabama’s contribution to our nation’s military strength and defense programs is vital to national security. Jerry is a natural fit on the House Armed Services Committee, where he is a staunch advocate for the defense interests of Alabama and the United States as a whole. Whether it’s Austal Shipyard in Mobile, Fort Rucker in the Wiregrass, Maxwell-Gunter Airforce Base in Montgomery, or Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama’s contribution to our nation’s military strength and defense programs is critical to national security.

Jerry also serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources, where he works to promote offshore energy production, protect and expand land for recreational hunting and fishing, advocate for Alabama’s timberland, manage and sustain our oceans and fisheries, and oversee tribal lands.