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  • November

    Kyle Anderson and some of his teammates from the Pleasant Hill – Goshen Fire Station who worked the Holiday Farm wildfire together.

    In Harm’s Way: Kyle Anderson goes above and beyond

    Kyle Anderson, a Corps' electrician at Lookout Point Dam is also a volunteer firefighter who was called into action when the Holiday Farm Wild Fire threatened his his hometown of Pleasant Hill, Oregon.
  • shrub-steppe habitat

    Improving Biodiversity in the Habitat Management Units

    Habitat Management Units, or HMUs, are different from other parks. While parks are maintained to provide recreational opportunities, HMUs are areas of land dedicated to environmental stewardship.
  • Engineers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Middle East District and members of the Lebanese Armed Forces survey the port at Tripoli Naval Base during a visit in October 2020.

    USACE Assists in Lebanon’s Recovery

    After nearly a decade, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Middle East District (TAM) is back in Lebanon to help provide engineering solutions to some of Lebanon’s toughest challenges.
  • Dr. Igor Linkov, U.S Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Risk and Decision Science Team lead, wears an example of the protective masks being used in the COVID-19 pandemic.

    ERDC researcher uses lessons learned from historic pandemics to address COVID

    COVID-19 proved to be unexpected to many people in the world, but Dr. Igor Linkov, Risk and Decision Science (RaDS) Team lead at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Environmental Laboratory, found himself on familiar ground.
  • The Merritt Under Construction at NC State Shipyard

    The Dredge Merritt: Maintenance and Repairs

    The dredge Merritt is finally back in the water at the North Carolina State Shipyard after routine maintenance. For the past month the crew has been busy replacing and updating steering systems, painting, replacing gear, cleaning fuel tanks, and repairing corrosion. This period of repairs has been very successful and beneficial to the vessel.
  • U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), mechanical engineer Jon Goebel briefs the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment Bryan Gossage at the ERDC Forward Operating Base- Laboratory, or EFOB-L, in Champaign, Ill., Oct. 30, 2020. Goebel discussed the research and development of hybrid power system capabilities.

    CERL hosts senior Army installation, energy, environment leadership

    Leadership from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) discussed ongoing projects and innovative technologies with the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (PDASA) for Installations, Energy and Environment (IE&E) Bryan Gossage, during his visit to the CERL campus Oct. 30.
  • See some of our fiscal year 2020 highlights!

    Kansas City District delivers $740 million program for the Heartland

    As the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District wrapped up final contract awards for fiscal year 2020, the team wants to share a summary of a few major accomplishments and how they tie into the district mission and benefit the Heartland region. The district awarded 1575 contracts worth $740.1 million in fiscal year 2020 – ending September 30.
  • Mariely Mejas-Santiago of the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory poses with her computer between sessions during RD20, a virtual collaborative event that was hosted Oct. 27-30 by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. More than 755 people attended the four-day, online event.

    RD20 fosters collaboration

    With scientists, engineers and other professionals spread across seven laboratories and multiple fields sites across the country, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) network is vast. But last week, ERDC hosted a virtual symposium – RD20 – with the goal of further connecting researchers scattered in various laboratories and locations throughout the country to enhance the organization’s ability to solve the nation’s toughest engineering challenges.

  • Omaha District to bring Air Force Cyberworx facility online

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District awarded a nearly $42 million contract Aug. 21 for the construction of the U.S. Air Force’s Cyberworx facility at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado.
  • Ruth Osburn, a nurse in Health Services at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, poses with David Allen, chief executive officer of Mississippi Blood Services, at a 2018 ceremony where Osburn was recognized as the State of Mississippi Blood Drive Chairperson of the Year for her work in organizing four drives at ERDC.

    Giving back by giving blood: ERDC sees continued success in annual blood drives

    Before becoming a nurse in Health Services at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Ruth Osburn spent 30 years working in hospital intensive care units. There, she saw firsthand how important blood transfusions can be to patients, and in her current role at ERDC, she works to meet that need. With four major blood drives hosted on the Vicksburg station each year, ERDC has become a major player in supporting Mississippi Blood Services.
  • Example of survey results on Missouri River chart compiled on Oct. 6, 2020 and available at https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Navigation/ [on the right hand side, scroll down the screen]. The surveys are also emailed out to navigators on a distribution list for the daily boat reports. Each survey is titled as to the portion of the river that was surveyed. You can also put a shortcut on your phone to a web app at: www.nwk.usace.army.mil/navigation which gives shortcuts to the most-use reports relating to the river and our reservoirs including a link to the most recent surveys. Both Apple and Android have our downloadable app for phones or other mobile devices at the appropriate app store. Searc¬h for “USACE Kansas City District”.

    Corps Kansas City survey crews helping define restricted areas on the Missouri River

    The Kansas City District, Missouri River Area Office has two survey teams who have been working long hours to identify locations and extent of shoaling in order to develop direct solutions in repairing the river training structures to improve the self-scouring function and to employ commercial dredgers to remove the sand shoals out of the river channel.

  • October

    During a visit to Fox Army Health Center at Redstone Arsenal Tuesday, Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, U.S. Army Surgeon General, took the time to recognize members of the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville’s Medical Division, including Wes Turner, Medical Division chief.

    Army surgeon general recognizes Huntsville Center medical division

    Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, who assumed command of the U.S. Army Medical Command in June, praised the team for ensuring Army Medicine provides safe, evidence-based environments of care for the Army’s top priority – its people.
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, in partnership with Pleasant Hills Authority, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 21 to signify the completion of the Streambank Protection Project.

    Eroded Streambank Wall Gets an Extreme Makeover

    Approximately 20 people gathered near what appeared to be an insignificant wall to celebrate the completion of a project that has an enormous impact on six communities.

  • LA District employees participate in Combined Federal Campaign to assist local charities

    The CFC is the only authorized solicitation of employees in the federal workplace on behalf of charitable organizations. Its mission is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, and cost efficient and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all, according to the Office of Personnel Management, which manages the campaign.
  • Aerial view of levee setback construction progress along L-536.

    Omaha District executes historic $1.65 billion program

    There were many challenges this year; recovering from the catastrophic Lower Missouri River Basin flooding event of 2019, protecting the workforce and public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, and hurricane first responder deployments. But in the face of unprecedented adversity, USACE Omaha District rose to each challenge through leveraging industrious teamwork and continuing to successfully support its worldwide missions. The District ended the year executing its largest program ever at $1.65 billion.
  • Dr. David Pittman, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, answers questions from members of the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce at their October meeting held virtually, Oct. 23, 2020. Pittman also provided an update on the current status of the organization and stressed the importance of the “Power of ERDC” to the local community.

    ERDC Director addresses Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce

    Dr. David Pittman, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), virtually addressed Vicksburg and Warren County community leaders during the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce meeting Oct. 23.
  • Contractors work build a new sidewalk near the Information Technology Laboratory at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, Miss. in September 2020. The work is part of the ERDC Master Plan, developed by the Installation Operations Division with a goal of enhancing quality of life and safety on all ERDC properties.

    Installation Operations Division paves the way for ERDC properties

    Tucked away in a third-floor office suite in the headquarters building, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Installation Support Division (ISD) is charged with making ERDC properties a better and more efficient place for all employees.
  • A new podcast series tells the stories of how, over the last 10 years, a growing international community of practitioners, scientists, engineers, and researchers across many disciplines and organizations are working together to combine natural and engineering systems to solve problems and diversify infrastructure value by applying the principles and practices of Engineering With Nature®.

    Collaborating with academia to develop future practice and practitioners

    In this episode of the Engineering With Nature® (EWN®) Podcast, guests are Dr. Brian Bledsoe, director of the University of Georgia’s Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), and Dr. Todd Bridges, senior research scientist for environmental science with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and national lead of the EWN Initiative and the sponsor of this podcast. They discuss a new partnership, the Network for Engineering With Nature (N-EWN), to promote new practices and expertise and to foster the drive and passion for delivering nature-based solutions for infrastructure in the next generation of scientists, engineers, business leaders and decision-makers.
  • TAM Commander COL Philip Secrist presents a certificate to architect Angelivette Nieves-Viruet who completed the Leadership Development Program Tier I and graduated virtually from Puerto Rico.

    Leadership Development Program grows leaders at all levels  

    Nine team members from the USACE Middle East District recently completed a year-long Leadership Development Program and graduated Oct. 14.
  • Coastal restoration progress reflects the Army Corps’ New York District continued commitment for storm risk management and reducing risks to coastal communities that remain vulnerable from future storms.

    Army Corps’ New York District continues its Coastal Restoration Mission Eight Years following Sandy

    New York District continues its Coastal Restoration Mission Eight Years following Sandy.
  • Coastal restoration progress reflects the Army Corps’ New York District continued commitment for storm risk management and reducing risks to coastal communities that remain vulnerable from future storms.

    Army Corps of Engineers New York District continues its Coastal Restoration Mission Eight Years following Sandy

    New York District continues its Coastal Restoration Mission Eight Years following Sandy.
  • Michael Banks: From Cavalry Scout to Engineer and Project Manager

    Michael Banks: From Cavalry Scout to Engineer and Project Manager

    Project managers (PMs) are vital to the work of the US Army Corps of Engineers. They are project catalysts who combine both customer and stakeholder expectations to ensure a project is completed on time and within budget. Michael Banks is one such Far East District Project Manager.
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, in partnership with Pleasant Hills Authority, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 21 to signify the completion of the Streambank Protection Project.

    Eroding bank at Lick Run has been restored

    To signify the Streambank Protection Project's completion, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, in partnership with Pleasant Hills Authority, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 21.
  • Dr. David Pittman, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, stands with Dr. William “Bill” Martin and Dr. Reed Mosher, the newest inductees to the Waterways Experiment Station Gallery of Distinguished Employees at a ceremony, Oct. 15, 2020.

    Martin, Mosher inducted into Waterways Experiment Station Distinguished Gallery

    Dr. William “Bill” Martin and Dr. Reed Mosher are the two newest inductees to the Waterways Experiment Station (WES) Gallery of Distinguished Employees at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) after a ceremony held Oct. 15.
  • Dr. David Pittman, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, stands with Dr. William “Bill” Martin and Dr. Reed Mosher, the newest inductees to the Waterways Experiment Station Gallery of Distinguished Employees at a ceremony, Oct. 15, 2020.

    Martin, Mosher inducted into Waterways Experiment Station Distinguished Gallery

    Dr. William “Bill” Martin and Dr. Reed Mosher are the two newest inductees to the Waterways Experiment Station (WES) Gallery of Distinguished Employees at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) after a ceremony held Oct. 15.
  • Fiscal Year 2020

    USACE Chicago District completes record-breaking fiscal year with $241M program

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District closed out fiscal year 2020 with a record-breaking $241M program. A significant contribution to the spike in execution was $137M from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the district’s support to the COVID-19 pandemic response.
  • Federal and state partners shovel ceremonial sand to kick-off the official start of the Jacksonville District's Central Everglades Planning Project South at a groundbreaking ceremony.in Miami today. (USACE photo by Mark Rankin)

    Corps groundbreaking ceremony kicks off Everglades restoration construction projects

    MIAMI, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2020) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District hosted a groundbreaking ceremony today for the Central Everglades Planning Project South, a project designed to restore more natural flows through the heart of the Everglades and improve water flows south to Everglades National Park.
  • Honored guests break ground at a ceremony for the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory’s new Climatic Chamber Building in Hanover, New Hampshire on Oct. 16, 2020. (Left to right) #### ####, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District Commander Col. John A. Atilano II, U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, CRREL Director Dr. Joseph Corriveau, New England District Project Manager Caitlin Slattery, Colby Company Engineering President Calen Colby and Colby Company Engineering Chief Executive Officer Sarah Emily Colby. The new Climatic Chamber Building will serve as a Material Evaluation Facility, providing a critical means to examine and test extreme cold-weather environments to develop and validate Army field materiel, which is required for Soldier and unit readiness.

    ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory breaks ground for climatic chamber building

    The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), along with U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New England District broke ground together for CRREL’s new Climatic Chamber Building Oct. 16 at the Hanover, New Hampshire, campus. The Climatic Chamber Building will serve as a Material Evaluation Facility. The facility will provide a critical means to examine and test extreme cold-weather environments to develop and validate Army field materiel, which is required for Soldier and unit readiness.
  • The Advanced Circulation (ADCIRC) model simulation shows maximum water surface elevations along the Texas Coastline during Hurricane Laura using the National Hurricane Center Advisory 23 consensus track shifted left. Researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center are using numerical modeling systems, like ADCIRC, to help U.S. Army Corps of Engineers districts better prepare for tropical storms by simulating scenarios to look at the possible storm impacts to district maintained and operated structures.

    ERDC researchers use numerical modeling to assist with hurricane preparations

    As a tropical system approaches the coastline and the intensity and impact of the storm becomes evident, officials and first responders brace for landfall by staging equipment and readying personnel for the aftermath. To assist in these efforts, researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) are using numerical modeling systems to help U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) districts better prepare for storms.
  • October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an observance tied to the Army’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce. The theme, “Increasing Access and Opportunity,” promotes educating employees and hiring authorities about disability employment issues and celebrating the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities.

    National Disability Employment Awareness Month promotes 'Increasing Access and Opportunity'

    “Emphasis should be on the point that people with disabilities are typically creative problem solvers; they must be able to navigate a world historically designed for people without disabilities,” noted Jennifer Sheehy, deputy assistant secretary, of the Army’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.