Joel Spano, lead quality assurance representative in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District’s Alaska Area Office, received the 2017 Chief of Engineers Hard Hat of the Year Award Aug.1 during a national ceremony in Washington, D.C. The honor was presented by Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, U.S. Army Chief of Engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley Houston. Award nominees are open to all Corps personnel working in the field on construction projects worldwide.