The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Engineer Regiment hosted a senior delegation of Brazilian Army engineer officers Nov. 13 to 16, for a wide-ranging tour as part of an ongoing military engineering partnership between the two nations.
The Brazilian delegation included Gen. Anisio David de Oliveira Jr., chief of the Brazilian Army Dept. of Engineering and Construction, Maj. Gen. Everton Pacheco da Silva, Brazilian military attaché in Washington, and other senior officers.
U.S. Army Engineer leaders escorted the delegation to the USACE Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) headquarters and USACE Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, Mississippi; the U.S. Army Engineer School at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri; and the Pentagon and USACE Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
“We were incredibly proud to host Gen. David and his team's visit with our engineer family. The relationship we share with our Brazilian counterparts is extremely important to us both,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Kimberly M. Colloton, USACE deputy commanding general for military and international operations. “Our ongoing dialogue over many years enables us to explore new ideas to help each other to address existing and emerging environmental and climate risks, understand design and construction challenges, and share best practices for solving our nations’ toughest problems.”
While at MVD on Nov. 13, the delegation received a brief by the division’s commanding general, Brig. Gen. Kimberly A. Peeples, about the importance of the Mississippi Valley Division and its mission to serve the region by providing vital public engineering services and stewardship of water resource infrastructure, partnering in peace and war, strengthening the nation’s security, energizing the economy, and reducing risks from disasters.
The delegation rode an inspection barge along the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, where they met the USACE Vicksburg District commander, Col. Christopher Klein, and learned about the Mat Sinking Unit (MSU). The MSU places hundreds of thousands of articulated concrete mats, also known as revetment, along the Mississippi River to protect flood control works, prevent riverbank erosion, and provide navigable waterways for commercial transportation. The unit’s work spans the jurisdictions of the Memphis, Vicksburg, and New Orleans districts and more than 1,500 miles of river.
During their Nov. 14 visit to ERDC, the delegation received overviews of a variety of coastal, digital and geotechnical technology. They visited the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory for a presentation on the center’s ship simulator and physical river models. At the Information Technology Laboratory, they received more information about CAD/BIM technology, and at the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, they learned about ERDC research in the area of post blast forensics.
At Ft. Leonard Wood on Nov. 15, the delegation met U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, commanding general of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Ft. Leonard Wood. They learned about the U.S. Army Engineer School and even tried out bulldozer simulators. They visited the Contingency Basing Integration Training and Evaluation Center (CBITEC), which provides U.S. Army Prime Power School students with testing facilities throughout their year-long training program. They also visited combat engineer mine detection dogs and learned about their training program.
Ft. Leonard Wood is the home of the U.S. Army Engineer Regiment, which encompasses over a dozen engineer-related military occupational specialties and represents more than 80,000 uniformed personnel assigned to Engineer units across the active Army, National Guard and Army Reserve.
The visit concluded in Washington, D.C., Nov. 16, where the delegation visited the Pentagon, including the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. They were welcomed to the USACE headquarters by Colloton, who also joined them for dinner along with U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William “Butch” Graham, deputy chief of engineers and USACE deputy commanding general, and other senior USACE leaders. The dinner also included a performance by the U.S. Army Band.
“The delegation was very impressed with how well they were received in all visits and especially at the dinner,” said Marcelo Salles, USACE South Atlantic Division’s international program manager, who accompanied the Brazilian leaders throughout the trip. “The Army Band was a great success.”
Regular visits between the Brazilian and U.S. armies’ chiefs of engineers began in 2006, along with other long-running initiatives to continually enhance engineering partnership and increase technical interoperability between the two armies.
Another key feature of the U.S.-Brazilian army engineer partnership is the ongoing Military Personnel Exchange Program, which started approximately 20 years ago. The current MPEP positions were established 10 years ago and include a Brazilian colonel at MVD’s division headquarters, a Brazilian colonel at ERDC, and a U.S. Army captain serving in the Brazilian Army’s 1st Engineer Group.
Over the past two years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has had nearly 50 agreements and over 100 construction activities underway, thanks to over $17 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These projects are making a difference for communities across the nation, from protecting against floods to boosting commerce to preserving and enhancing aquatic habitats.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District is pleased to announce that it has awarded a $40 million contract to Enviro-Fix Solutions LLC for Niagara Falls Storage Site (NFSS) Remedial and Site Services.
The first task order was awarded on Aug. 4, 2023 for $11,984,341.90, which includes remediating contaminated media in accordance with the Record of Decision for the Balance of Plan (BOP) and Groundwater Operable Units (OU). This work is being carried out under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP).
Selected Remedy:
The selected remedy in the Record of Decision for the Balance of Plant and Groundwater Operable Units (OUs) Niagara Falls Storage Site is the complete removal of contaminated media and off-site disposal at a properly permitted or licensed facility. Following completion of excavation and off-site disposal, the site would be remediated to levels suitable for industrial use (i.e., protective of construction, industrial, and maintenance workers, as well as adolescent and adult trespassers).
The major components of the selected remedy for the NFSS BOP and Groundwater OUs include:
Next Steps/Anticipated Schedule:
Site Services:
In the future, the USACE intends to utilize available contract capacity to support ongoing NFSS Interim Waste Containment Structure Disposal (IWCS) Remedial Design Activities. Activities may include environmental and geotechnical data collection and site infrastructure construction.
NFSS Project Information Website:
All documents (fact sheets, reports, video, etc.) related to the Niagara Falls Storage Site project can be found at:
https://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/Missions/HTRW/FUSRAP/Niagara-Falls-Storage-Site/.
Administrative Record:
All documents used during the decision-making process for FUSRAP activities at the NFSS site are available at:
Colonel Brad Morgan assumed command as the 57th District Commander in the history of the Wilmington Engineer District in July 2023. He is from Union City, TN, and received his commission as an Engineer Officer from the United States Military Academy in 2000. He is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic and Captain’s Career Courses, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Pathfinder School, Sapper School, and the College of Naval Command and War College and was previously assigned to U.S. Southern Command, where he served as the Chief of Engineer Plans and Operations within the Engineer Division of the J4 Directorate.
His previous non-command assignments include service as a Sapper Platoon Leader, Assault & Obstacle Platoon Leader, Combat Engineer Company XO, and Battalion Construction Officer in the 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st CAV, deploying to Baghdad, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II; Battalion Military Transition Team Leader, 1st ID, deployed to Taji, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; MSE G5, Chief of Plans, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Battalion Operations Officer, 326 Engineer Battalion, deploying to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn; Deputy Commander, Nashville District, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); and as the Deputy Commander, Baltimore District, USACE, which included a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
His command assignments include: 18 months as Commander, 511th Sapper Company, 326 Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he deployed to Iraq in 2009, conducting route clearance operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and 25 months as Commander, 19th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, where he deployed to the U.S.-Mexico Border in support of the initial Operation Border Support in the fall of 2018.
COL Morgan is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Tennessee and holds a Master of Engineering degree from Vanderbilt University, a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with 3 OLC, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with 1 OLC, the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 OLC, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with 2 OLC, the OIF and OEF Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Armed Forces Service Medal, and the NATO Medal. He has also earned the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Combat Action Badge, and the Sapper Tab.
With all 17 permanent pumps inspected and restored, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will remove the contingency pumps installed on the Pratt Drive side of the London Avenue Outfall Canal in New Orleans, La. The process to carefully remove the pumps and all associated piping will begin Monday, July 10, and take approximately one month to complete.
USACE, in partnership with the U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, installed 34 temporary pumps to provide emergency pumping capacity while work was underway to inspect and restore the permanent pumps at the London Avenue Permanent Canal Closures and Pumps structure. These pumps provided a combined 1,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) in pumping capacity to ensure the pump station could perform as needed while the 1,800 cfs Pump #1 was under repair. These contingency pumps are no longer necessary as the London Ave. PCCP has been restored to its full design capacity of 9,000 cfs.
Once all temporary components have been removed, USACE will begin restoration of the impacted greenspace. This work will include seeding and fertilizing the site, mulching and aerating the existing trees, pruning the crape myrtle trees, and planting two additional oak trees. A licensed horticulturalist and arborist will be hired to ensure the effort is done appropriately.
In February 2023, USACE identified corrosion as the primary cause of failure at Pump #1 at the London Avenue PCCP. In response, USACE began efforts to restore Pump #1 and worked with the PCCP Joint Venture contractor to inspect and repair, if necessary, the remaining 16 pumps at the three PCCP locations to ensure the pump stations would perform as designed during the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane season. These inspections and repairs were completed on June 1, 2023, with all pumps deemed available and reliable for hurricane season.
Following hurricane season, USACE will begin a long-term effort to deliver pumps that are sustainable, reliable and meet the 35-year design life. This work will take place outside of hurricane season and is anticipated to take multiple years.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-South Pacific Division and Navajo Nation signed an agreement intended to improve USACE’s support to Navajo Nation at Window Rock, Arizona, July 6.
The agreement was signed by U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Antoinette Gant, commanding general, USACE-South Pacific Division, and Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren.
“With this framework provided for intergovernmental support, the South Pacific Division looks forward to assisting the Navajo Nation by collectively addressing the Nation’s highest priorities and delivering bold solutions to serve and strengthen their communities,” Gant said.
Services and any goods which the Corps may provide to the Navajo Nation under this agreement include full or partial services in the areas of planning, design, engineering, consultation, technical support and training, and construction activities.
The purpose of the agreement is to establish a mutual framework governing the respective responsibilities of the Parties for the provision of goods and services for NN projects, leveraging the Chief’s Economy Act. 10 U.S.C. § 7036(e).
The signing puts a formal agreement in place to allow the Navajo Nation to utilize specific services on a cost reimbursable basis with all of the Corps’ districts under the South Pacific Division.
Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Douglas Galick assumed duties as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Command Sergeant Major, on 23 June 2023, in the Military District of Washington.
CSM Galick enlisted in the United States Army on November 19, 1996 and completed Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He was awarded the MOS of 21E, Heavy Construction Equipment Operator.
His previous assignments include: Equipment Operator, Bravo Company 588th Engineer Battalion, Fort Hood, TX; Team Leader, Charlie Company 84th Engineer Battalion, Fort Richardson, AK; Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant in the 68th Engineer Company, Fort Hood, TX; AIT instructor in Bravo Company, 577th Engineer Battalion and Senior Drill Sergeant in Echo Company, 3-10 Infantry Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Combat Advisor on the 17th IA DIV MTT in Iraq; S-3 NCOIC for the 326th Engineer Battalion, First Sergeant of 887th Engineer Support Company, and First Sergeant of Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 326th Engineer Battalion, Fort Campbell, KY; Senior Personnel Developer in the Engineer Personnel Development Office, U.S. Army Engineer School, Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Command Sergeant Major of the 1-35 Armor Battalion, Operations Sergeant Major for the 1st Squadron, 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment, Command Sergeant Major of the 40th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, TX; and Command Sergeant Major of the 555th Engineer Brigade, Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA; U.S. Army Engineer School and Regimental Command Sergeant Major, Fort Leonard Wood, MO and most recently the Command Sergeant Major of the Pacific Ocean Division of United States Army Corps of Engineers.
CSM Galick has earned an Associate Degree in General Studies from Central Texas College, a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Science in Management Degree from Excelsior College, and a Project Management Profession (PMP) certification.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (3d Award), the Bronze Star Medal (3d Award), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award), the Army Commendation Medal (5th Award), and the Army Achievement Medal (8th Award). He has also earned the Basic Airborne Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Combat Action Badge, the Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, the Driver’s Badge (Wheeled), the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency (Gold), and the Sapper Tab. CSM Galick has also been awarded the Silver Order of the De Fleury Medal, and he is a member of the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, has a robust military construction mission at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, providing more modern academic and living space for Cadets. The work maintains the standards of excellence the Academy is known for ─ preparing future leaders for the Nation’s challenges ahead.
New York District Commander Col. Matthew Luzzatto commented: “The work at West Point is a critical component of our military construction mission. A dedicated team of professionals ─ including personnel at the West Point Area Office on campus ─ are overseeing the work, ensuring projects are completed on time and on budget. We’re proud to be serving our Nation in this capacity.”
Cyber Engineering & Academic Center
The Cyber Engineering and Academic Center (CEAC) is a $217-million project constructing a four-story academic building suited to train and equip future officers to confront the increasingly technological challenges of peacekeeping. Scheduled for completion in 2025 and focused on innovation and collaboration, the new facility will have 59 unique labs, each designed with flexibility/adaptability for future programming to keep pace with a rapidly-evolving technology.
General Instruction Space
The Swing Facility is a temporary 20,000 sq. ft. structure with administrative and collaborative academic space. It will be used to provide additional educational space for various departments when renovations are being made to instructional areas. It’s part of the 17-year Academic Building Upgrade Program (ABUP) renovating seven outdated facilities (some more than a century old) critical to delivering academic and military programs.
Cadet Barracks
All Cadet barracks on campus are getting major renovations as part of the West Point Cadet Barracks Upgrade Program (CBUP) upgrading nine Cadet barracks and facilities. The 10-year effort to modernize all existing Cadet barracks will deliver modern living facilities that increase space and reduce operating costs. Work has already been completed on seven of barracks, the final two are under construction.
Camp Buckner
Camp Buckner, located several miles from West Point’s main campus, is a summer training facility for Academy Cadets. Work has begun on a five-year renovation of 38 buildings serving as cadet barracks during the summer.
The $66 million renovation, expected to be complete in 2026, is part of the West Point Military Complex Development Program upgrading military training areas allowing cadets to train year-round. Built in the late 1940s, the barracks are being updated to address structural issues, relocate sleeping and bathroom facilities, install heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and new windows and roofing. Additional improvements include thermal insulation, plumbing and electrical upgrades, WiFi and fire-suppression and fire-alarm systems.
Cullum Hall
Constructed nearly 130 years ago (1896), Cullum Hall was originally designed to memorialize the service and sacrifice of West Point graduates that died in combat. Currently housing the Cadet Hostess and Cadet Clubs, the lower basement levels are being completely renovated to serve as the new home for the U.S. Military Academy Archives.
Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, the 55th Chief of Engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, presented U.S. Senator Tom Carper of Delaware with the Gold de Fleury award on behalf of the Army Engineer Association during a ceremony today in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Carper, who currently serves as the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, was selected for his leadership in addressing the nation's water resources infrastructure needs.
Under his leadership, a bipartisan group of senators on the EPW Committee helped to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which included $17.1 billion for the Army Civil Works program that is funding studies and projects, maintaining existing infrastructure, and dredging channels in response to floods and coastal storms. Additionally, under his leadership, the EPW Committee drafted and passed the seventh consecutive biennial Water Resources Development Act in 2022.
“Senator Carper has dedicated his career toward taking care of people,” Spellmon said. “In both his 23 years of service in the Navy and his more than 46 years as a public servant, he has continued to fight for the safety, security and well-being of our nation.”
“I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition from the Army Corps of Engineers,” said Carper. “As Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with the Corps for years, supporting their vital work in Delaware and across our country. The Corps keeps our economy moving safely and efficiently, and I’m proud to help the Corps advance solutions to some of our most pressing challenges, including building resilient infrastructure to climate change.”
Carper joined the EPW committee in 2001 and has served as chairman since 2021. In that time, he has led efforts to address the nation’s critical water resources infrastructure needs and global efforts to combat climate change. These efforts encompass some of the more than 1,000 ongoing civil works projects conducted by USACE, projects primarily aimed at addressing coastal vulnerabilities, improving climate resiliency, restoring aquatic ecosystems and maintaining federal navigation channels infrastructure.
“It is my honor to present the Gold de Fleury award to a leader like Sen. Carper, whose experience, understanding, and perspective continue to support the growing USACE mission,” Spellmon said.
Each year the Gold de Fleury is awarded to one individual outside the Army Engineer Regiment whose contributions to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Army Engineer Regiment exemplify boldness, courage, and commitment to a strong national defense.
The Order of the de Fleury was established in 1779 in honor of Francois Louis Tesseidre de Fleury, a French engineer, who volunteered to serve during the American Revolution. There are four different levels of the award: steel, bronze, silver and gold, with gold being the most prestigious.
