The chief of the Corps of Engineers has set in motion a massive overhaul of the 35,000-person organization that aims to make it more efficient and less divided into hierarchical "stovepipes." With the plan, issued in final form on Oct. 7, the Corps' chief, Lt. Gen. Robert B. Flowers, says he wants the Corps to become "a team of teams."

Flowers says, "This has tremendous potential for us to provide better service and be more responsive....to the public. I know the concepts work and I know the basis is sound."