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

Two years after quake, military repair projects continue as USACE reflects on response efforts

USACE - Alaska District
Published Nov. 30, 2020
Updated: Nov. 30, 2020
During the 2018 quake, walls inside the building fell and some exterior walls cracked running from the foundation to the roofline. In total, the damages cost about $4 million. The project was completed in October 2020. Shown here, a crack in the middle that stemmed from the building's foundation to the roof was repaired.

Built in 1953, building 8517 known as the People Center, serves as a main juncture for military and Department of Defense personnel and their families on the installation. During the 2018 quake, walls inside the building fell and some exterior walls cracked running from the foundation to the roofline. In total, the damages cost about $4 million. The project was completed in October 2020. Shown here, a crack in the middle that stemmed from the building's foundation to the roof was repaired.

During the 2018 quake, walls inside the building fell and some exterior walls cracked running from the foundation to the roofline. In total, the damages cost about $4 million. The project was completed in October 2020. Shown here, Capt. Justin Dermond, USACE - Alaska District project engineer, inspects one of the repaired walls at the People Center.

Built in 1953, building 8517 known as the People Center, serves as a main juncture for military and Department of Defense personnel and their families on the installation. During the 2018 quake, walls inside the building fell and some exterior walls cracked running from the foundation to the roofline. In total, the damages cost about $4 million. The project was completed in October 2020. Shown here, Capt. Justin Dermond, USACE - Alaska District project engineer, inspects one of the repaired walls at the People Center.

Shown here, team members inspect a clinic facility on the installation.

At the request of the 673rd Civil Engineer Squadron, the USACE - Alaska District assigned a structural assessment team to inspect facilities for damage on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson following the 2018 Cook Inlet Earthquake. Augmented by personnel from USACE’s Honolulu District and the Baltimore District’s 71st Forward Engineer Support Team, the group investigated 392 buildings between December 2018 and January 2019. Shown here, team members inspect a clinic facility on the installation.

Shown here, team members inspect a clinic facility on the installation.

At the request of the 673rd Civil Engineer Squadron, the USACE - Alaska District assigned a structural assessment team to inspect facilities for damage on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson following the 2018 Cook Inlet Earthquake. Augmented by personnel from USACE’s Honolulu District and the Baltimore District’s 71st Forward Engineer Support Team, the group investigated 392 buildings between December 2018 and January 2019. Shown here, team members inspect a clinic facility on the installation.

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON – The ground rumbled for 90 seconds. The power went out. Trees, light poles and buildings swayed back and forth. Two years ago, Southcentral Alaska began its Friday with the largest earthquake it had experienced in more than a decade.

With the epicenter about 10 miles north of Anchorage, the Cook Inlet Earthquake registered a 7.1 magnitude and rocked most of Alaska’s population during the morning of November 30, 2018. First responders sprang into action, but once the dust settled the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District emerged as a reliable military partner inspecting and repairing infrastructure on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

“The response efforts following this emergency is a testament to the expeditionary mindset of the Corps and its partners needed to operate in Alaska,” said Col. Damon Delarosa, Alaska District commander. “Hopefully, we will never have to experience another potential catastrophe, but if we do, then I know we will be ready.”

A few days after the natural disaster, the organization assigned a structural assessment team to inspect facilities for damage on the installation. Augmented by personnel from USACE’s Honolulu District and the Baltimore District’s 71st Forward Engineer Support Team, the group investigated 392 buildings between December 2018 and January 2019.

None of the facilities inspected were condemned, but 10 buildings were identified for major repairs totaling about $27 million worth of work. The JBER People Center, 673rd Air Base Wing Headquarters and a contracting facility are on that list. A project management team between USACE and the Air Force’s 673rd Civil Engineer Squadron is executing these ongoing and unique projects. So far, two are finished and the rest are scheduled for completion in 2021.

“These are not typical construction projects, or retrofits,” said Capt. Joanna Schell, the Alaska District’s project manager overseeing the earthquake repair efforts. “We had the challenge of determining what was actually earthquake damage or wear and tear of a building that is more than 60 years old.”

Built in 1953, building 8517 known as the People Center, serves as a main juncture for military and Department of Defense personnel and their families on the installation. The structure houses critical personnel functions such as in and out processing, ID cards, enlisted and officer records; personnel management for reassignments, family travel and other Soldier actions; and a retirement office.

During the 2018 quake, walls inside the building fell and some exterior walls cracked running from the foundation to the roofline. In total, the damages cost about $4 million. The project was completed in October 2020. It was important for the project management and contractor team to take on the challenge of balancing the installations’ need for continuity at the People Center and across all the repair efforts.

“We understand the importance of these facilities and the mission of the Soldiers and Airmen associated with them,” Schell said. “We included the end users of these facilities, like the People Center, in the construction timeline conversations to ensure that work would not interfere as much as possible.”

These discussions allowed contractors to work on sections of the building while personnel were still able to use the facility to do their jobs.

While the 2018 event was a significant natural disaster, all the buildings requiring attention survived the 1964 earthquake that registered a 9.2 magnitude and shook Southcentral Alaska for about five minutes. It is a testament to the legacy of the engineering, design and construction practices that many of these facilities share.

“From a structural standpoint, these buildings were put together rather well,” said Geoff Farley, project manager for the 673rd Civil Engineer Squadron. “If you were to go back and examine the original as-built drawings that were produced back in the 1950s, the People Center, headquarters building, and contracting facility were basically the same floor plan.”

While over the years customizations and maintenance choices have been performed on the facilities, the age of the materials inside are nearing 70 years old and, therefore, surprising that more damages were not sustained during the most recent earthquake, Farley added.

“None of the damage was life threatening,” he said. “It is of major concern, but we are still able to get in there to perform corrective repairs before it became more serious.”

The partnership between USACE and the Air Force has been a crucial component to successful construction efforts and enabling these facilities to last a few more decades. Executing the mission efficiently using everyone’s strengths, expertise and having the same goal and outcomes in mind was key, Farley said.

“The goal was to support mission readiness and provide a safe and usable facility for the installation,” Schell said. “I believe that’s something the team delivered and will continue as these projects remain into next year.”


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