Jo-Ellen Darcy, a long-time Senate staffer who has specialized in water and environmental issues, will be nominated as assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, the White House announced on March 31. The assistant secretary oversees the civil works program of the Army Corps of Engineers.

Darcy currently is senior environmental advisor to the Senate Finance Committee. Before that, she spent more than a decade as a staffer on the Environment and Public Works Committee, where she played a key role in drafting Corps-related legislation. Her positions on the EPW staff included senior policy advisor and deputy staff director. Earlier in her career, Darcy was federal environmental issues advisor to then-Michigan Gov. James J. Blanchard (D).

"We're delighted to hear of her nomination," says Dave Sanford, American Association of Port Authorities' director of navigation policy and legislation. "We believe that she is the right person for the job." Darcy's position is subject to Senate confirmation. If approved, she would succeed John Paul Woodley, Jr., as assistant secretary.

In addition, the Army recently named Terrence "Rock" Salt to the number-two position in the civil works office. Salt, who began work as principal deputy assistant secretary for civil works on March 12, had been director of Everglades restoration initiatives at the Interior Dept., where he coordinated the department's efforts in that massive, ongoing undertaking. In 1996, Salt retired from the Army after a 30-year career. His final post was as commander of the Corps' Jacksonville District.