Employee Spotlight:
Name: Jeff Cochran
Job Title: Chief, Safety and Occupational Health
How long have you been at Honolulu District/USACE?
Over 17 years.
What did you do before you arrived at POH?
Prior to arriving at Honolulu District, the initial start of my career was a Department of the Army Intern working for the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM). Following the DA Intern assignment I became a Safety Specialist for USACE Tulsa District, Rock Island District, and later on the Chief of Safety and Occupational Health at USACE Little Rock District.
What’s the best thing about USACE?
Our customers, heritage, and impact on the Nation. Honolulu District is so unique because the District can operate anywhere in the world delivering outstanding projects with premiere engineering for key stakeholders and impacting others with outstanding resources and services.
What do you like to do when you’re not at the office?
As an evangelist, I love to go soul winning and touch lives in a unique way for my beliefs, and sometimes I enjoy golfing, (cow pasture pool).
Before working at USACE what was the most unusual or interesting job you've ever had?
For ten years I served as a coach, teacher, and taught driver’s education in Texas teaching and inspiring others to make a difference in their life.
If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
Do an inspection of NASA and go behind the scenes of all their inner workings.
Why did you choose your career path?
I’m passionate about people and daily impacting the lives of our OHANA and contractors to work safe and healthy and go home to their family with a smile on their face safely makes my day.
What do you find the challenging aspect of the job?
Legal aspects and inspecting serious incidents where someone was seriously injured.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Speaking life to people and motivating them to be the best they can by planning safety into their everyday life.
What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now?
Working with a professional military, civilian and contractor personnel planning, designing and constructing safely projects impacting the future of the Department of Defense and United States Army.
What is the best advice you can give to a new POH employee?
Complete the Army Management Staff College Sustaining Base Leadership and Management Program (SBLM) course. Be mobile for advancement, develop a sound (Individual Development Plan) IDP-partner with your supervisor, choose a competent mentor, and work as though you don’t need a paycheck. Also know Honolulu District is the best Corps of Engineer District in the best location, where the best people enjoy and have pride in their daily accomplishments while not forgetting to have fun.