On Friday, September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene severely impacted the J. Strom Thurmond Project causing incapacitating damage resulting in the closure of 51 Corps of Engineers-operated recreation areas. Although staff and contractors have managed to render some areas safe, many remain closed due to debris, safety concerns, and infrastructure damage. Before safely reopening all areas, approximately 500,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris, 21,000 leaning and hazardous trees, and 2,000 hazardous stumps must be removed. Once debris is cleared, project staff will be able to inspect recreation infrastructure damages, perform repairs, and ultimately re-open our recreation areas. The magnitude of damages to the Thurmond Project is unprecedented, with storm recovery estimates to cost tens of millions of dollars.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in partnership with The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Jacksonville Post, hosted an Engineering Career Day for area Jacksonville high school students at the Jacksonville Public Main Library. Engineering Career Day is an event that is held every February during National Engineers Week, which brings more than 100 students and teachers from Northeast Florida high schools together to compete in hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) challenges. This year’s event brought together a total of 26 teams from 9 different high schools together to participate. Laureen Borochaner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Engineering Division Chief, delivered the opening remarks for the event, highlighted the importance of Engineering Week and the positive impact it had on students interested in pursuing a career in the engineering field. “We want them to have a passion for what we do as engineers and scientists, and to seriously consider joining the workforce,” said Borochaner. The theme for this year’s Engineering Career Day was “Don’t Let Gravity Get You Down,” and was reflected in the two surprise problems presented to event participants in the form of an egg drop and water tower challenge. Teams were provided with construction materials and asked to create innovative solutions to the challenges presented. -Mark Mosher

The Savannah District earned the Combined Federal Campaign 2024 Everest Award! The CFC Everest Award is a prestigious recognition given to units or offices that achieve a 5 percent or greater increase in both dollars pledged and participation rate during the CFC compared to the previous year. This award highlights the dedication and generosity of federal employees who go above and beyond to support charitable organizations. By surpassing this milestone, recipients demonstrate a strong commitment to philanthropy and community impact, setting an example for others to follow. The Everest Award serves as a testament to the power of collective giving and the positive change it can create.

One of the largest military construction projects in the U.S. is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District rebuild of Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida. After Hurricane Michael nearly destroyed the base in 2018, the Corps and the Mobile District were tasked with rebuilding it and transforming it into the base of the future. As the home of the new state-of-the-art aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II fighter, the rebuild at Tyndall is using state-of-the-art materials to make the base able to withstand hurricane-force winds. With the project being one of USACE’s largest and the innovation involved in the rebuild, it was no surprise that Brig. Gen. Kirk Gibbs, USACE Military International Operations deputy commander, visited the base on Feb. 19 to observe the rebuild in person. “Since Hurricane Michael had its impact here at Tyndall Air Force Base, this rebuild has been a priority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” Gibbs said. “We’ve been working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Air Force, and I knew the rebuild was going well, but I wanted to get here and get eyes on it so I can use it as an example for much of the work we do when we have these types of recovery missions on military installations. It has not disappointed. It’s great construction.” The rebuild involves 49 military construction projects. Seven have been completed, and another 16 projects are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. Gibbs toured two projects nearing completion: Hangar 1, which will house the F-35 and one of two new dormitories for the Airmen working on the base. -Chuck Walker

Hurricanes and other coastal storm activity have repeatedly decimated the shoreline of Manasota Key in Charlotte County, FL. Damages to private property and public infrastructure, loss of recreational space and environmental habitat, and economic loss have been widespread, especially following the 2024 hurricane season. These impacts are worsened by rising sea levels, which a projected to increase by one to three and a half feet over the next 50 years. Enter th U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)with a coastal storm-risk management (CSRM) study under its South Atlantic Division (SAD), with team members from Savannah, Mobile, and Jacksonville Districts, as well as the Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) collaboratively contributing expertise in engineering solutions to our nation’s toughest challenges.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Tyndall Air Force Base’s rebuild in Panama City, Florida, is taking shape. After Hurricane Michael nearly destroyed the base in 2018, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, was tasked with rebuilding it, which is home to the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation aircraft fighter, the F-35 Lightning II.

Crews work to remove vegetative debris from private property in Weaverville, North Carolina, Feb. 26, 2025. As part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers private property debris mission, USACE, at the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is removing, reducing and disposing of debris on private property to eliminate potential hazards that pose a potential threat to lives, public health and safety. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Charles Delano)

Stay up to date on the latest Hurricane Milton developments.

The South Atlantic Division and all 6 of our districts are currently hiring across a spectrum of disciplines. Visit the Careers web page on this site to view current positions available.