From Bugs to Bridges: A Biologist’s Dedication Shines in Baltimore Harbor Crisis

USACE-NAB
Published Aug. 14, 2024
Updated: April 30, 2024
During an emergency, an operations liaison, like U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District biologist Ariel Poirier pictured here during the Key Bridge Response in April 2024, plays a critical role in ensuring effective communication, coordination, and decision-making among the various agencies, departments, and teams involved in the response efforts. Their primary goal is to support the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in managing the crisis and minimizing its impact on the community. (U.S. Army photo by David Adams)

During an emergency, an operations liaison, like U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District biologist Ariel Poirier pictured here during the Key Bridge Response in April 2024, plays a critical role in ensuring effective communication, coordination, and decision-making among the various agencies, departments, and teams involved in the response efforts. Their primary goal is to support the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in managing the crisis and minimizing its impact on the community. (U.S. Army photo by David Adams)

On April 8, 2024, during the total solar eclipse, a group of professionals from various scientific backgrounds took a moment to observe the celestial event. The group, pictured from left to right, included Kimberly Matthews, design manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District; Kareem Orio, Coast Guard Master Chief marine science technician; and Baltimore District personnel Amani Khalil, environmental ecologist and Ariel Poirier, biologist. United by their scientific curiosity, they briefly paused their duties to witness the rare astronomical phenomenon together. (U.S. Army EOC Photo)

On April 8, 2024, during the total solar eclipse, a group of professionals from various scientific backgrounds took a moment to observe the celestial event. The group, pictured from left to right, included Kimberly Matthews, design manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District; Kareem Orio, Coast Guard Master Chief marine science technician; and Baltimore District personnel Amani Khalil, environmental ecologist and Ariel Poirier, biologist. United by their scientific curiosity, they briefly paused their duties to witness the rare astronomical phenomenon together. (U.S. Army EOC Photo)

Ariel Poirier – July 2021 Butterfly Surveys

Ariel Poirier – July 2021 Butterfly Surveys

With a love of crawly things and creatures the average person would avoid, Ariel Poirier has loved bugs since childhood. While many have childhood dreams, she followed hers, becoming a biologist and building a career at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District.

When tragedy struck Baltimore, Poirier was one of the first to volunteer for the district's Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Within days, hundreds would join her in the Key Bridge Response team, operating from the Incident Command Post (ICP) at the Maryland Cruise Terminal in Baltimore.

Positioned as an operations liaison with the EOC, Poirier served onsite from the March 26 collapse, only recently demobilizing after a month of work. In this high-stress environment, she celebrates the diverse personalities she has encountered. "It has been amazing to meet different USACE employees, learn about their areas of expertise, and experience the interconnectedness that makes the Unified Command function."

As operations liaison, she tracked multiple moving pieces and relayed information to various department heads. This vital role links the EOC, response teams, and other stakeholders, ensuring effective crisis management and community protection. The position involves maintaining accurate response records, including decisions made, actions taken, and resources deployed, while contributing to situation reports and after-action reviews.

With nearly two years at USACE, Poirier has become integral to the organization. "Ariel, like a few others, has shown she is not just tied to her job title, she has a wealth of information and is as versatile as they come," said Rebecca Fosnight, EOC operations management specialist. "Her dedication to mission success and commitment to the USACE family has made me proud to have her as a colleague."

Throughout the response, Poirier faced challenges balancing work and personal life during consecutive long duty days. "I struggled finding time to spend with family and friends," said Poirier. "But this is all temporary though, and I have a wonderful support system that made it easy to keep my focus on the mission."

"I gave this mission my complete focus and attention," Poirier said. "My strength to fulfill the role was inspired by knowing the many impacts the collapse has had on people and the economy. Lives were lost, navigation halted, and people's lives were directly impacted. Loss and change are difficult, and knowing this, it's easy to care. It's human to step up and do your part during times of trouble, and that's what motivates me."