News Stories

  • June

    USACE Marks 250 Years with Pivotal Support to the Army’s Birthday

    As the U.S. Army celebrated its 250th anniversary June 14 with a birthday festival and parade in the nation's capital, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was hard at work behind the scenes and on the logistical front lines. In a powerful intersection of history and engineering excellence, USACE’s contributions helped ensure parade success while also symbolizing its own 250th anniversary of building and defending the nation.
  • May

    USACE Navigation mission critical to Armed Forces’ strategic readiness

    When the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) needs to move over 1,000 trucks, trailers, and tons of equipment for a large training exercise, they rely on the cost-effectiveness and convenience of the nation’s waterways.
  • The Corps Environment – Spring 2025 edition now available

    The Spring 2025 edition of The Corps Environment is now available! This publication highlights how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is turning environmental challenges into mission-ready solutions. Content in this issue includes ongoing projects and initiatives from across the Army environmental community that are leveraging environmental stewardship as a force multiplier — enhancing military readiness, strengthening strategic partnerships and supporting community well-being.
  • USACE Completes Two-Week Regional Power Mission Exercise, Prepares for Upcoming Hurricane Season

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) successfully concluded a two-week Regional Power Mission Exercise on May 16, enhancing its readiness to provide critical temporary emergency power in the wake of a major disaster.
  • U.S. Engineering Team Assesses Colón, Panama’s Infrastructure Challenges, Strengthening Bilateral Partnership

    A team from the U.S. Army’s 553rd Forward Engineer Support Team-Advance (FEST-A) drove around important parts of the city of Colón, Panama, surveying the stormwater and wastewater systems on May 13, 2025. The survey was designed to find ways to bolster the ongoing partnership between the United States and Panama while addressing one of Panama’s largest city’s long-standing infrastructure issues.
  • OPTIC: Transforming Mission Planning with Safety, Efficiency, and Innovation

    The proliferation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in civil works, emergency response, and military applications is the primary driver for development of the Operator’s Tool for Information Collection (OPTIC). Designed to meet operational needs, OPTIC leverages decades of experience to improve mission planning, operational tracking, and data-driven decisions for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
  • April

    What is a Sapper? 250 Years of “Badass” Engineers

    In the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the term sapper carries weight. For 250 years, sappers have served as elite combat engineers, supporting frontline infantry in every war throughout American history.
  • March

    Double Duty: Chris Stewarts’ Service in and out of Uniform

    Chris "CJ" Stewart seamlessly balances his dual roles as a federal civilian logistics management specialist and an Army Reservist. Serving within the Resource Integration Division (RID) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Logistics Activity (ULA), Stewart's civilian duties involve assessing logistics through the Command Logistics Review Program (CLRP). Simultaneously, as a Motor Transport Operator (88M) in the Army Reserves, his military focus is also squarely on logistics. Stewart recently completed a year-long activation based in Poland, where his mission involved deterring, defending against, and potentially defeating adversarial aggression. His logistical support stretched across multiple countries, including Poland, Croatia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Germany. During his deployment, Stewart held multiple critical command roles in addition to his regular duties, including SHARP Ambassador Program representative, Suicide Prevention Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC), Liaison Officer NCOIC, and Unit Movement Officer NCOIC.
  • USACE Aviation Program Office: Enhancing Efficiency and Compliance in UAS Operations

    The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Aviation Program Office (APO) plays a pivotal role in advancing crewed and uncrewed aviation missions across the organization. Established to meet the growing demands of Civil Works, Emergency Response, and Combatant Command operations, the APO serves as the central aviation authority for USACE, ensuring the safe, legal, and efficient operation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS).
  • February

    The Corps Environment – Winter 2025 edition now available

    The Winter 2025 edition of The Corps Environment is now available! This edition features ongoing projects and initiatives that are proactively considering the environment and influencing partnerships in support of military readiness and community well-being.

News Releases

Kansas City District delivers $740 million program for the Heartland

Kansas City District, Northwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Published Nov. 5, 2020
Updated: Oct. 29, 2020
See some of our fiscal year 2020 highlights!

See some of our fiscal year 2020 highlights!

FY20 Contracting Highlights Storyboard

FY20 Contracting Highlights Storyboard

FY20 Military Highlights Storyboard

FY20 Military Highlights Storyboard

See some of our Engineering Division FY20 Highlights!

See some of our Engineering Division FY20 Highlights!

See some of our FY20 Civil Works Highlights!

See some of our FY20 Civil Works Highlights!

FY20 Readiness Highlights Storyboard

FY20 Readiness Highlights Storyboard

See some fiscal year 2020 highlights from our Environmental Division!

See some fiscal year 2020 highlights from our Environmental Division!

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.

“I am very proud of our team – we didn’t slow down during the pandemic, even with a significant amount of our employees working virtually. We made strong progress repairing levees and navigation structures while responding to the longest Missouri River flood in the district’s history – 279 days. Whether repairing flood damages, working on one of the district’s five Mega Projects, supporting our military installations, constructing our civil works projects, operating our recreation areas or supporting the environment, the mighty Kansas City District Team has worked above and beyond to serve the Heartland and our Nation. Our employees are fully committed to working with our partners to do the best we can while serving,” said Col. Bill Hannan, commander, Kansas City District.

“Our Contracting team overcame multiple challenges this fiscal year to successfully execute a large FY 2020 mission. We worked closely with Project Delivery Team members and business partners to solicit and award contracts on time, in a quality and fiscally responsible manner.  I’m proud of the team’s efforts and our role in awarding the contracts that allow our district to continue to meet the needs of the Heartland and our nation,” said Brad Wright, acting chief of Contracting.

The Office of Small Business Programs awarded 1,029 contract actions valued at over $302 million – 40.9% of the total funds committed - distributed between small businesses including Small Disadvantaged, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned and Hub Zone small businesses.

“As a district, we assist small businesses compete and win contracts and subcontracts,” said Arthur Saulsberry, deputy for the Office of Small Business Programs.

The Civil Works mission is to provide quality, responsive service to the nation and assist with water resource development activities including flood risk management, navigation, recreation, infrastructure and environmental stewardship, and emergency response.

After the record setting flood of 2019 on the Missouri River, the Kansas City District pulled together to contract repairs on our partner’s breached levees and damaged Corps lake properties – all while continuing the planning, design, and construction of vital water resources projects in Missouri and Kansas,” said Melissa Corkill, chief of Civil Works Programs and Project Branch.

Some highlights from the Civil Works branch this fiscal year are listed below:

Kansas Citys Levees

  • Completed design and awarded 2 construction contracts totaling $17M for Armourdale and Central Industrial District Levee Units pump station repairs
  • completed a risk-informed 95% design on the Argentine, Armourdale and CID levee raises
  • Developed collaborative relationships with four major railroads

Flood Recovery

  • Awarded over $22M on 4 contracts to repair Bank Stabilization Navigation Protection structures between River Mile 0-498 and 2 contracts to repair 5 side-channel chutes that were severely damaged from the 2019 flood - all repairs being performed are to support and benefit the navigation channel
  • Awarded 45 construction contracts totaling over $34M to repair 54 levee units damaged during the 2019 flood event

Dam Safety Projects 

  • Awarded over $13M on contracts to repair damages at district lakes caused from the 2019 flood event – projects included a slide repair at Kanopolis, road repairs at 8 lakes and campground repairs at Tuttle Creek
  • Completed non-flood related maintenance/repair projects at Perry Lake, Truman Lake, Longview Lake, Wilson Lake, Stockton Lake and Harlan County Lake

Civil Works total dollars committed: Over $189 million.

The Military Branch mission is to provide premier engineering, construction, real estate, and environmental management products and services for the installations and other U.S. Government agencies within Kansas and Missouri. Outside of our traditional area of responsibility, the district continues to provide support to other Military mission Corps districts, the U.S. Northern Command initiatives in Mexico and the Army Facilities Components System. 

“We executed the largest Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization program in the district's history.  We awarded 40 contracts for over $205M in support of our 5 military installation and the 88th Regional Support Command.  In addition to the large SRM workload, we continue to execute 4 mega projects and support numerous USACE districts through our reachback program.  Our Military Program continues to be very large and diverse and our team has done an exceptional job adapting to the changes and executing our mission in support of the warfighter," said Tim Kurgan, chief of the Military Branch.

Some highlights from the Military programs this fiscal year are listed below:

  • Executed a $527 million program and the largest Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization Program in the District’s history
  • Awarded 40 SRM contracts for over $205 million - supported the Army’s initiative to improve barracks by awarding 4 barracks renovation projects for $50 million
  • Improved small project execution, awarding 20 projects at Fort Leonard Wood for over $14 million
  • Initiated construction on the $635.5 million Next National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency West headquarters in St. Louis, Mo
  • Initiated construction on the $296 million Fort Leonard Wood Hospital Replacement
  • Support to Others
    • Completed the design for the National School for Civil Protection Facility in Mexico
    • Awarded 3 construction contracts to support the 88th Regional Support Command for $11.6 million
  • Continued support to Japan and the Army Facilities Components System
  • Military Branch total dollars committed: Over $527 million

The Environmental Program focuses on protecting human health and the environment in a timely and cost-effective manner. The Kansas City District investigates, designs, and executes a full range of cleanup and protection activities from coast to coast.

“Environmental Programs was stretched during FY20, as COVID-19 restrictions impacted our ability to be face-to-face with each other, with our customers, and with our sister Districts that we work with across the country.  Our team pulled together and increased communication with each other to ensure we could meet our mission in the Midwest, on the East Coast, and in the Pacific Northwest.  I am extremely proud of the professionalism and dedication of our team,” said Jill Fraley, chief of the Environmental Branch.

A few highlights from fiscal year 2020 are listed below:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Nuclear Reactor Decommissioning (Livermore, Calif.)

  • Partnered with San Francisco District to execute a nuclear reactor decommissioning project for the Department of Energy
  • Scoped and awarded $7.9M environmental remediation task order to decommission the test reactor 

Cornell Dubilier Electronics Superfund Site (South Plainfield, N.J.)

  • Awarded $23M remedial action task order to remediate contaminated wetlands at the site and to re-route a major waterline
  • Partnered with New York District 

Matteo & Sons Superfund Site (West Deptford Township, N.J.)

  • Awarded $8.9M remedial action task order to remove soil contaminated with lead, antimony and PCBs that is impacting 23 residential properties
  • Partnered with Philadelphia District

Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant (DeSoto, Kan.)

  • Removal of over 128K linear feet of explosive propellant production lines to date

Environmental Programs total dollars committed: $158 million

The team provides services and expertise to our district which covers parts of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado in the Missouri River watershed as well as environmental work in California, Idaho, Washington (state), New York and New Jersey.

The Kansas City District is a team of dedicated professionals with a strong heritage and proven results who, in collaboration with our partners, proudly serve in the Heartland providing leadership, technical excellence, and innovative solutions to the nation's most complex problems.


Mississippi Valley Division

Institute for Water Resources

South Pacific Division

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