News Stories

  • April

    14-year multipurpose disaster shelter program reaches completion in Bangladesh

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District recently completed a robust construction effort aimed at reducing the threat of coastal storms to communities in eastern Bangladesh. Multipurpose Disaster Shelters, or MPDSs, are tailor-made for the volatile conditions of cyclone season. During periods of normal weather, these structures serve functions such as schools and clinics. When the annual storms bring severe flooding, the shelters are built to stand above the flooding and provide secure, elevated spaces for the community.
  • March

    Geotechnical chief completes temporary duty trip in Antarctica

    Amy Steiner, chief of the Geotechnical and Materials Section, recently completed a temporary duty trip to McMurdo Station in Antarctica, where she supported the installation of a marine resupply and cargo transport pier. During her time in Antarctica, Steiner also provided review and comments on the ad-freeze pile design and construction methods. She attended a pre-construction meeting with the project team, including representatives from the Marine Design Center and the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center's Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory.
  • October

    Small projects in Vietnam yield huge impacts for citizens, diplomatic relations

    Recently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District completed construction of two primary schools and a medical clinic in rural parts of Vietnam. Through a partnership between the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, USACE, Vietnam government and local contractors, the United States government aims to enhance the quality of life for Vietnamese residents through these projects while strengthening diplomatic relations between the two nations.
  • September

    USACE completes handover of newly constructed kindergarten building in Mongolia

    While Alaska and Mongolia are separated by an ocean, the two regions share some key characteristics. Frigid climates, rugged mountains and austere regions can make for challenging construction, but staff at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District are experts at delivering high-quality infrastructure in arctic conditions. The team recently celebrated the handover of a newly constructed kindergarten building in the remote community of Tosontsengel. For this critical project, their experience in Alaska guided them to an effective construction solution while thousands of miles from home.
  • August

    USACE staff observe dam infrastructure in Switzerland in preparation for tunnel project in Alaska

    Staff from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District toured dam infrastructure in the heart of the rugged Swiss Alps as part of a temporary duty trip. After cataloguing their findings abroad, the team returned to Alaska with a renewed perspective for the improvement of the Lowell Creek Flood Diversion project set in similar mountains near Seward.
  • Half-billion-dollar F-35 infrastructure program wraps up at Eielson Air Force Base

    Understanding the need for supporting infrastructure for one of the nation’s most advanced weapon systems, the Department of Defense invested about $600 million on a beddown program at the installation located near North Pole, Alaska. Also known as the “joint strike fighter,” the two squadrons consist of 54 aircraft that now have the proper facilities to support their missions thanks to the design and construction work of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District.
  • July

    USACE regulatory program celebrates rollout of new online permitting system to augment critical mission

    From the crystalline glacial streams of the Kenai Peninsula to the remote lakes of the Interior, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District’s Regulatory Division is tasked with protecting aquatic resources while balancing reasonable development through the issuing of permits. With an added emphasis on high-quality customer service, USACE recently unveiled the new Regulatory Request System as an important new development for the regulatory mission and for permittees to engage with the program.
  • May

    Concrete is hard: Materials workshop keeps technical staff skills sharp

    Recently, members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Alaska District’s Construction Division, Civil and Sanitary Section and Geotechnical and Materials Section participated in a field concrete and materials workshop at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The event included classroom instruction, applied training and a written exam for attendees to obtain the American Concrete Institute’s foundational Level One Field Concrete Certification, which acts as the industry standard for engineers and construction workers around the world.
  • April

    USACE engineer support team provides expertise, broadens professional experience on European deployment

    Headquartered at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Alaska District and staffed with engineering professionals from throughout USACE, the 62nd Forward Engineer Support Team – Advanced, or FEST-A, is one of eight expeditionary teams that provides rapidly deployable engineering capabilities throughout the world. Primarily composed of civilian employees, these critical personnel groups perform infrastructure damage assessments, environmental surveys and building plans in support of the Army’s mission abroad.
  • February

    USACE completes largest child development center in the Army at Fort Wainwright

    A new era of high-quality childcare has dawned in the Fort Wainwright and greater Fairbanks community in Alaska’s interior. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District is conducting its post-construction activities after completing the largest child development center at Fort Wainwright, which will accommodate up to 338 children.