MOBILE, Ala. — Under clear coastal skies at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Irvington Site Office on September 8, 2026, colleagues, leaders, and generations of family gathered to dedicate a new vessel that embodies the enduring legacy of one of their finest public servants. With the traditional splashing of water from the Mississippi Sound across the bow, the survey vessel Joshua Ellsworth was officially christened into service, marking a permanent tribute to a man whose two decades of service left an indelible mark on the waterways of the Gulf Coast.
The ceremony was anchored by family. Josh’s daughter, Eloise, joined by Josh’s father, retired USACE civil engineer Joe Ellsworth II, officially christened the vessel. The moment was both a celebration of future operational capability and a moving tribute to Josh, who passed away in Mobile, Alabama, on May 7, 2023. The gathering also honored the memory of Josh’s mother, who passed away in July 2023 shortly after her son.
Longtime friend and fellow co-worker Nicholas Stafford, USACE Mobile District Engineering Technician, said that Joshua Ellsworth was the type of friend and co-worker you could depend on.
“Josh and I started our careers with USACE on the exact same day,” Stafford said. “Over the 20 years we worked together, he became a trusted colleague and a true friend. He was the kind of friend who would pick up the phone just to check in, and a teammate who always went above and beyond for the mission.”
Key Ceremony Milestone Details Event Christening and Dedication Ceremony for the S/V Joshua Ellsworth Date & Location September 8\, 2026 | Irvington Site Office\, Irvington\, Alabama Operating Agency U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District Sponsors / Christeners Eloise Ellsworth (Daughter) and Joe Ellsworth (Father) Builder Scully’s Custom Aluminum Boats (Morgan City, Louisiana) Primary Mission High-precision hydrographic surveying across shallow draft and coastal channels
A Resilient Workhorse for Mobile District Waterways
Built by Scully’s Custom Aluminum Boats in Morgan City, Louisiana, the Joshua Ellsworth is engineered specifically to augment the Irvington Site Office’s hydrographic surveying fleet. Powered by a robust 230-horsepower package, the 20-foot aluminum workboat delivers the agility, strength, and shallow-water access essential for navigating complex coastal environments.
The vessel will serve as a critical operational asset for shallow-draft civil works projects and sheltered waters, while remaining capable of surveying deeper federal channels under favorable sea conditions. Much like its namesake—who was known across the district for an uncompromising standard of quality and relentless work ethic—the craft is built to be a reliable workhorse in support of commercial navigation, channel maintenance, and coastal protection.
Steve Reid, USACE Mobile District Irvington Site Office Manager, said naming the vessel after Josh is fitting.
“Josh was a great teammate and even better friend,” Reid said. “I am happy that we were able to name the vessel after him so his legacy can live on.”
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Vessel Specification Operational Profile Hull Length 20 Feet Propulsion Power 230 Horsepower Origin & Manufacturer Scully’s Custom Aluminum Boats | Morgan City\, Louisiana Target Hydrographic Zones Shallow-draft coastal projects, protected bays, and open channels Mission Mandate Rapid-response bathymetric mapping, dredge disposal monitoring, and channel verification
A Multi-Generational Heritage of Service
The Ellsworth name has long been synonymous with national defense and public infrastructure. Josh’s grandfather served honorably as an Army soldier during World War II, establishing a tradition of service continued by Josh’s father, Joe Ellsworth II, who dedicated his career as a civil engineer within USACE Mobile District’s Operations and Engineering Divisions retiring in 2015.
That proud legacy remains actively alive on the water today. Two of Josh’s brothers—Jonathan Ellsworth and Joe Ellsworth III, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran—serve as Construction Control Inspectors at the Irvington Site Office. Alongside their brother Charlie, who was embraced as a brother into the Ellsworth family circle, the brothers maintain the rigorous operational standards and camaraderie that defined Josh’s life and career.
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Family Member Service and Operational Role Joshua J. Ellsworth USACE Construction Control Inspector & Safety Specialist (2002–2023) Eloise Ellsworth Daughter and official vessel sponsor Joe Ellsworth (Father) Retired USACE Civil Engineer (Operations & Engineering Divisions) Grandfather U.S. Army Veteran, World War II (passed away January 2014) Jonathan Ellsworth USACE Construction Control Inspector, Irvington Site Office Joe Ellsworth III U.S. Marine Corps Veteran; USACE Construction Control Inspector, Irvington Site Office Charlie Adopted brother, integral family member, and steadfast USACE partner
Members of the USACE Mobile District and the Operations Division also took part in the ceremony, with Col. Kelcey Shaw, Mobile District Commander, giving the welcoming and opening remarks. Matt Dunn, Assistant Chief of Operations gave the invocation, Nelson Sanchez, former Chief of Operations sang the National Anthem, Tyler Perry described the vessel and what it could do, Nate Lovelace, USACE Mobile District Chief of Coastal Offices and Reid gave remarks and introduced the Ellsworth family, boat captains Reid Poe and Justin Martin folded the USACE flag that was presented to the family, while Stafford and Matthew Edwards observed the christening.
Mastery in the Field: From Camille Cut to Lasting Fellowship
Beginning his career in 2002, Josh served at the Irvington Site Office for more than 20 years. Advancing to Construction Control Inspector, he provided indispensable quality assurance on major navigation dredging and dredged material disposal area contracts. A tireless champion of crew welfare, he also served as a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, holding himself and field teams to an exacting standard of safety and craft excellence.
Josh's technical leadership was demonstrated decisively during the Mississippi Coastal Improvements Program (MsCIP). Hand-selected to lead quality assurance on the program’s flagship project—the complex, multi-year filling of Camille Cut to reunite East and West Ship Island—Josh tackled the immense environmental and engineering challenge head-on, working tirelessly until the project was successfully completed.
“Josh took a lot of pride working with contractors to smooth out unexpected issues at the end of a project and help the USACE team achieve success,” said Nate Lovelace, USACE Mobile District Chief of Coastal Offices. “Josh’s personality and positivity are what made him so effective.”
Beyond his technical mastery, Josh was beloved for his warmth, quick wit, and unmistakable laugh. Colleagues remembered him as a leader who took the time to know people beyond their job titles. Outside the office, Josh lived fully cheering passionately for Alabama Crimson Tide football, fishing along Gulf Coast waters with family and fellow colleagues and cherishing the everyday moments with those he loved.
With the S/V Joshua Ellsworth now underway, his name will continue to sail every channel and shallow bay he worked so faithfully to protect.
“Josh quickly became one of my closest friends after starting my career with USACE,” said Matthew Edwards, USACE Mobile District Project Manager. “He thrived in a team environment and had a true talent for bringing people together both in and outside the workplace. I’m excited to see the survey vessel Joshua Ellsworth become a part of the Irvington fleet for many years to come.”
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2026 15:30 |
| Story ID: | 574917 |
| Location: | MOBILE, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 35 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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