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After 40 years in public service, long-time TAD PAO departs (again)

Members of the Transatlantic Division Command Team present a symbolic “horse” from employees to Joan Kibler on the occasion of her “re-retirement.” Kibler, an avid equine lover, retired March 19, 2019, after 40 years in public service. Pictured (left to right) are Col. Scott Lowdermilk, TAD Commander Col. Mark C. Quander, Kibler, and TAD Command Sergeant Major Randolph Delapena.
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Members of the Transatlantic Division Command Team present a symbolic “horse” from employees to Joan Kibler on the occasion of her “re-retirement.” Kibler, an avid equine lover, retired March 19, 2019, after 40 years in public service. Pictured (left to right) are Col. Scott Lowdermilk, TAD Commander Col. Mark C. Quander, Kibler, and TAD Command Sergeant Major Randolph Delapena.

Transatlantic Division employee Joan Kibler gives an emotional farewell speech on the occasion of her “re-retirement” March 19, 2019, after 40 years in public service.
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Transatlantic Division employee Joan Kibler gives an emotional farewell speech on the occasion of her “re-retirement” March 19, 2019, after 40 years in public service.

Members of the Transatlantic Division Command Team present a “farewell” gift from TAD employees to Joan Kibler on the occasion of her “re-retirement.” Kibler was a “reemployed annuitant” – a former federal civil servant who came out of retirement to support TAD’s Public Affairs office. She retired March 19, 2019, for what she promises is the last time, after 40 years in public service. Pictured (left to right) are Col. Scott Lowdermilk, TAD Commander Col. Mark C. Quander, Kibler, and TAD Command Sergeant Major Randolph Delapena.
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Members of the Transatlantic Division Command Team present a “farewell” gift from TAD employees to Joan Kibler on the occasion of her “re-retirement.” Kibler was a “reemployed annuitant” – a former federal civil servant who came out of retirement to support TAD’s Public Affairs office. She retired March 19, 2019, for what she promises is the last time, after 40 years in public service. Pictured (left to right) are Col. Scott Lowdermilk, TAD Commander Col. Mark C. Quander, Kibler, and TAD Command Sergeant Major Randolph Delapena.

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The Transatlantic Division bid a fond farewell to a long-time public servant and friend to the organization when Joan Kibler retired (again) on March 19, 2019, after 40 years in public service.

Kibler was a “reemployed annuitant” – a former federal civil servant who came out of retirement to return to Federal service – supporting TAD’s Public Affairs office.

“We had been without a PAO for quite some time at TAD and we really needed some help,” said Col. Scott Lowdermilk, who at the time of her rehiring was the Transatlantic Division’s Deputy Commander.  “I gave Joan a call and asked her if she would consider coming back to bridge the gap until we got a permanent PAO hired. She gave me a pretty resounding ‘no’ to my request because she was watching her granddaughter twice a week and that was a very important priority for her.”

Lowdermilk said that after a “fair amount of groveling and persuading” on his part, Kibler agreed to come on board to at least test the waters. He said her arrival back at work had an impact felt across the staff and her part-time status took on full-time responsibilities: updating the division and district websites, writing stories and managing social media, Facebook and the web, and writing numerous publications, displays and products to help tell the TAD story.

“Although she was only with us part time, it was impossible to tell.  She did the work of a full time person from the day she arrived,” Lowdermilk said. “Joan is a true professional and she takes the business of Public Affairs very seriously. The Corps' reputation and all the great work we do mean a lot to her and she wanted the world to know about it.” 


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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division serves as USACE’s tip of the spear in one of the most dynamic construction environments in the world, STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS, BUILDING CAPACITY, and ENHANCING SECURITY for our nation, allies, and partners. 

We SAFELY deliver agile, responsive, and innovative, design, construction, engineering and contingency solutions in support of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command and other global partners to advance national security interests.

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