CHALMETTE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE MEETS VP BIDEN DURING EVERGLADES VISIT

During Vice President Joe Biden’s April 23rd visit to the Florida Everglades to view the development of the restoration of Florida’s “River of Grass”, Howie Gonzales, a 1990 graduate of Chalmette High School and recipient of the Kiwanis Club of Arabi-St, Bernard Scholarship in 1990, and Program Manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District (Corps), had a chance to meet him and discuss the national impact of this project.

As chief of the Jacksonville District’s Ecosystem Branch, Gonzales oversees the overall planning, design and construction of the Corps’ South Florida Ecosystem Restoration programs and projects, which includes the Corps’ Everglades restoration projects. One such project is the Modified Water Deliveries (MWD) to Everglades National Park project in Miami-Dade County, FL., where Biden spoke April 23.

"The Everglades ecosystem is a unique resource that cannot be replaced. In addition to the habitat that the Everglades provides for plants and animals, including many threatened and endangered species, people depend on the Everglades for fresh water,” said Gonzales. “Because of this connection between humans and the natural environment, every individual that lives, works or plays in south Florida needs to do their part to help conserve water usage - this, in part, will help protect this irreplaceable treasure."

Gonzales began his 18-year career with the Corps in February 1994 as a student intern while studying at the University of New Orleans. Prior to working for the Jacksonville District, he was a program manager with the Sacramento District, a senior project manager with the Albuquerque District, and a study and project manager with the New Orleans District, where he managed multiple water resources projects. He graduated from the University of New Orleans in December 1994 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, in 1998 with a Master of Science Degree in Engineering Management, and in 2001 with a Master of Business Administration.

Gonzales is the son of Howard and Betty Gonzales, who still reside in Chalmette, and has two daughters, Logan, 10, and Lindsay, 8.