New chief takes over Army Corps' New Orleans district

Col. Alvin "Al" Lee, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, assumed command Friday of the New Orleans district of the Army Corps of Engineers, still reeling from the impact and aftershocks of Katrina and now bracing for the potentially nastiest stretch of the current hurricane season the months of August and September.

The 45-year-old engineer and native of southern Georgia, replaces Col. Richard Wagenaar, the outgoing commander, who is taking early retirement from the Army after two harrowing years at the wheel of the 30,000-square-mile district.

Wagenaar assumed his command in July of 2005, just 45 days before Katrina sideswiped New Orleans with a record surge that helped expose catastrophic deficiencies in the federal hurricane protection system the corps built in pieces, but still had not finished, over the preceding four decades.

"I know the eyes of America and the people of New Orleans are focused on everything we do," Lee told the audience assembled Friday to witness the change of command, saying he would focus on strengthening relationships with the community and other government agencies and "executing the promises" made to residents of the devastated region.
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