The Buxton Formerly Used Defense Sites property sustained damage when Hurricane Erin passed by the Outer Banks in North Carolina Aug. 21, 2025, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contract team from Bay West was on site to assess the conditions, mitigate any possible petroleum-related issues and removed unearthed asbestos pipes that posed a possible health and safety hazard to the on-site team and public.

As Hurricane Erin intensifies to Category 5 strength, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stands ready to bring the “flood fight” to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Under the authority of Public Law 84-99, the Corps of Engineers Caribbean District provides both technical expertise and direct assistance to territorial partners, helping safeguard lives, property, and critical infrastructure. District personnel can rapidly mobilize once a flood emergency is declared, and local and territorial resources become overwhelmed. In anticipation of Hurricane Erin, the Caribbean District has proactively pre-staged Flood Fight Materials (FFM) to enable swift response.

New U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District Commander Col. Kelcey Shaw speaks during the Change of Command ceremony at the Mobile District Headquarters, Mobile, Alabama, July 18, 2025. Shaw assumed command from outgoing commander Col. Jeremy Chapman during a ceremony presided over by Brigadier Gen. Zachary Miller, South Atlantic Division commander. (U.S. Army photo by Chuck Walker)

Jacksonville District Talking partnerships – at the Everglades Agricultural Area Foundation Prep contract Senior Exec Meeting Col. Brandon Bowman, Jacksonville District Commander recognized members of the Forgen-Odin Joint Venture team for overcoming obstacles collaboratively and demonstrating partnership behaviors.

To prepare for this year’s potential onslaught of storms, the Caribbean District held a Hurricane Tabletop Training Exercise (TTX) on June 11, 2025, at Fort Buchanan. In attendance were district leaders, program managers and members of the Emergency Operations Management team. Also in attendance were leaders from across the Corps of Engineers South Atlantic Division providing technical support. FEMA and the National Weather Service were in attendance to brief on their roles and responsibilities within the National Response Framework and provide an overview of how the Caribbean District will be incorporated into regional hurricane planning, response and recovery operations throughout hurricane season.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District officially welcomed three new hydrographic survey vessels to its fleet, during a dedication ceremony, June 12, 2025, at the District’s Engineers Depot in Savannah, Georgia. Each vessel bears the name of a fallen U.S. Army Soldier from Georgia, serving as a lasting tribute to their sacrifice and service. The 30-foot Wright is named for Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright, the 27-foot Chisholm for Sgt. Tyrone Lanard Chisholm, and the 23-foot Beale for Sgt. 1st Class John C. Beale. More than 160 attendees joined the ceremony— in person and virtually—which was hosted by Savannah District Commander Col. Ron Sturgeon. “We gather today with heavy hearts and profound gratitude to dedicate three extraordinary vessels in honor of three heroic Soldiers who gave their lives in service to our nation,” said Sturgeon. “It is a privilege to stand before you, their families, to honor their sacrifices and ensure their legacies endure through these vessels and the missions they will carry out.” The new vessels will support a wide range of missions essential to the Corps’ operations, including hydrographic surveys to assess navigation channel conditions, monitoring dredging efforts, detecting underwater obstructions, and transporting personnel and equipment to project sites. All three vessels will operate throughout the Savannah District’s area of responsibility, which includes key waterways such as the Savannah Harbor, the third busiest container port in the U.S., the Brunswick Harbor, the largest roll-on/roll-off port, and the 161-mile stretch of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway along Georgia’s coast.

MOBILE, Ala. – One of the specialized career fields in the military is that of the U.S. Air Force combat controller. Air combat controllers are special mission operators trained to support all other special operators and often conduct their missions behind enemy lines. Combat controllers are certified as air traffic controllers and joint terminal attack controllers. These dual certifications allow them to direct friendly air traffic and request attacks against ground targets from aircraft overhead. To accomplish this mission, combat controller teams often move forward with Navy Seals, Green Berets, or other Tier 1 operators and use a radio to communicate with air assets assigned to the mission. Combat controllers need a place to be housed and trained in order to fulfill and train for these missions. Enter the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District.