Ms. Vicki VanBlaricum currently serves as the Human Capital Office Chief at the U. S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) in Champaign, Illinois. Vicki and her team are responsible for creating and leading the recruiting, onboarding, career development, and employee recognition programs for a federal workforce of approximately 350 people. ERDC-CERL is one of seven U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) research laboratories comprising the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). ERDC-CERL’s mission is to discover, develop, deliver, and sustain trusted engineering and scientific solutions impacting built and natural infrastructure worldwide for the Warfighter and the Nation.
Vicki began her 30+ year Federal career as a Research General Engineer in ERDC-CERL’s Materials and Structures Branch where she led and conducted research in the areas of utility system simulation and analysis, sustainment management systems, and corrosion control. She then spent 15 years as the Chief of CERL’s Materials and Structures Branch beginning in 2007. In this role, she supervised, led, and coached 35 researchers who worked to improve the durability, resilience, and sustainability of military and civil works infrastructure. Under Vicki’s leadership, branch researchers won dozens of technical achievement awards at the ERDC, USACE, Army, and national levels.
Vicki was selected to establish the ERDC-CERL Human Capital Office in August 2022. In 2024, her innovative programs for recruiting, onboarding, and career development were personally recognized as best practices by the Headquarters USACE Chief of Human Resources who leads the Human Resource program for the 39,000 USACE employees.
Vicki holds a Bachelor’s degree in General Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She authored more than 50 peer-reviewed research publications. She received the U. S. Army Commander’s Award for Civilian Service in 2013 and the U. S. Army Civilian Service Achievement Medal in 2020.