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lexington, Va. -- Michelle Hamor, chief of the Flood Plain Management Section, Norfolk District, leads a presentation on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Silver Jackets program and the establishment of a Virginia team April 12, 2012, during the Environmental Virginia Symposium. The Silver Jacket program seeks to bring together federal, state, tribal and local agencies to learn from one another and jointly apply resources to reduce flood risk. The Virginia team has been active since June 2010, and signed a formal charter in December 2010. The 23rd edition of Virginia’s premier environmental summit, held April 10-12 on the historic campus of Virginia Military Institute, attracted more than 700 environmental stewards from throughout Virginia’s public-private sectors as well as non-governmental agencies. Together, they exchanged information, technology and ideas aimed at contributing to a prosperous economic and environmentally sustainable future. Environmental scientists and other staff of Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers attended the Environment Virginia Symposium, along with Col. Paul Olsen, the district’s new commander and Michael Darrow, chief, Water Resources Division. The district’s educational exhibit was on full display and staffed by environmental scientists in the Medal of Honor Hall at the George C. Marshall Center for Leadership and Ethics. Olsen said he was honored to attend this important environmental symposium, with its theme: “Sustainable Solutions for Uncertain Times,” and relished the opportunity to meet with and learn from so many diverse industry leaders who, like he, embrace environmental sustainment. Shortly after assuming command of Norfolk District on March 16, Olsen was quick to convey to the district team his two environmental imperatives: “Building Strong” implies “Building Smart.” “Through combined education and dedication,” Olsen said during his change of command remarks, “we balance our nation’s passion to build with its responsibility to protect.”