U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Overview

Published Dec. 15, 2011
WIESBADEN, Germany — Lt. Col. Michelle Garcia (middle), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District deputy commander, explains design elements of the newest military housing units near the Wiesbaden Army Airfield to Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Dorko (right), USACE deputy commanding general of military and international operations, during a tour of the construction site Oct. 31, 2011. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Carol E. Davis)

WIESBADEN, Germany — Lt. Col. Michelle Garcia (middle), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District deputy commander, explains design elements of the newest military housing units near the Wiesbaden Army Airfield to Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Dorko (right), USACE deputy commanding general of military and international operations, during a tour of the construction site Oct. 31, 2011. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Carol E. Davis)

Mission
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides vital public engineering services in peace and war to strengthen our Nation's security, energize the economy, and reduce risks from disasters.

Building a strong military

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has about 37,000 dedicated civilians and Soldiers delivering engineering services to customers in more than 90 countries. The team works to strengthen the nation’s security by providing military facilities where service members train, work and live, while managing the largest Army military construction effort since World War II. In addition, USACE buys, manages and disposes of land for the Army and Air Force – military land holdings are currently about 24 million acres, which is roughly the size of Indiana.


Responding to disasters and emergencies
As the Nation’s leading public engineering agency, USACE works with other federal agencies to provide support to domestic and international emergencies including the Midwest flood fights, Gulf Coast oil spill, the earthquake in Haiti and the recent Tsunami in Japan. The Corps provides drinking water and ice, cleans up debris, provides auxiliary power, inspects and assesses damaged areas, and engineering expertise to state and federal officials.

Researching and developing new solutions
USACE’s research and development and geospatial centers continuously look for emerging trends, challenges and new technological capabilities:
  • Discover ways to improve water-related structures, study hydraulics, and refine geotechnical, environment and coastal engineering
  • Develop technology to support the war fighter
  • Improve force protection for troops and facilities
  • Develop mapping, terrain analysis and image processing techniques
  • Increase the Army’s efficiency in constructing, operating and maintaining its facilities
Making waterways passable
Essential items the public uses today – from food to fuel – come through the Nation’s waterways. Navigating ships within harbors and inland waterways is essential to commerce and American’s quality of life. USACE maintains navigation channels, much like road crews maintain highways, and builds breakwaters or jetties to protect homes and businesses from crashing waves. Improvements include deepening and widening so commercial ships and other watercraft can move safely and easily. Dredged material often takes on a beneficial use, becoming habitat areas, including wetlands and protected offshore islands.

Reducing flooding (and so much more)
When a storm hits, the USACE-built and maintained dams and reservoirs hold excess water upstream, releasing the water gradually to prevent or reduce downstream flooding. These structures provide fun as well as safety. Boating, swimming, fishing and camping come courtesy of USACE reservoirs, which have more than 40 million visitors each year. Reservoirs also provide irrigation from farms, water supply storage for communities and protected ecosystems for fish and wildlife. In cities near waterways, floodwalls, levees and diversion channels all work to keep storm water out of homes, schools and businesses. USACE also helps reduce flood damage by preventing additional construction in areas most prone to floods. All told, USACE flood reduction projects save taxpayers about $3 billion in damages each year.

Supporting others
When requested an in accordance with national policies, the USACE provides support to other federal, state, and local agencies as well as the international community with a full range of planning, engineering, design/construction management, program management, real estate, research and development, and technical assistance services. The work ranges from constructing wastewater treatment plants and space launch facilities to assisting other nations with damages caused by disasters and war.

Sustaining the environment
As the nation’s environmental engineer, USACE is protecting and restoring the nation’s environment including critical efforts in the Everglades, the Gulf Coast and along many of the major waterways. USACE is also cleaning sites contaminated with hazardous, toxic or radioactive waste and ordnance in an effort to sustain the environment.