North Star Port

16 | NORTH STAR PORT | WINTER 2024 operations, Great Lakes hydraulics and hydrology, regulatory oversight, and emergency management. In October 2021, the Detroit District reorganized, and she became chief of operations division, responsible for operations, regulatory oversight and emergency management. Through much of her tenure, Strum also led the Great Lakes Navigation Team, a source of great professional pride. The regional team, comprised of Buffalo, Chi- cago and Detroit District staff, focuses on budgeting, maintaining and operating the USACE's Great Lakes navigation infra- structure as one interdependent system and communicating transparently with stakeholders. The team was launched in 2006, just as Strum was named assis - tant chief of ETS. Managing the fledgling Great Lakes Navigation Team became a primary role and a passion. "There were all kinds of challenges at the time with a lack of funding and no common vision between districts about what our goals were for the Great Lakes," said Strum, who worked with USACE colleagues and industry stakeholders to consolidate data and communicate how critical the Great Lakes navigation system and all of its components were (and are) to the entire country. She continued to manage the Great Lakes Navigation Team as she moved up the ranks. "I've loved working not just with the USACE team but with all of the diverse stakeholders from Minnesota out to New York," Strum said. "Today, we are one big consolidated team with a common goal and purpose—to improve the reliability and resilience of the Great Lakes naviga- tion system. I'm proud of how much we have accomplished together, speaking with one voice." Strum also takes pride in her col- leagues at USACE in the Detroit Dis- trict and across the Great Lakes. She appreciates the opportunities she had to mentor people and to be a role model for those coming up behind her, particularly young women. "I've worked with so many tremendous and hardworking people who are com- mitted to the betterment of the system and the region," Strum said. "The makeup of our workforce today and the diversity are excellent. If my experience opened doors or inspired young women to apply for promotions or leadership positions, I feel really good about that." After more than 20 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District, Marie Strum came to know the Soo Locks inside and out. Today, we are one big consolidated team with a common goal and purpose."

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