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  • December

    Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, district commander, presented a certificate of retirement to Randy Bowker, deputy district engineer and director of programs and project management, in a ceremony at the district headquarters on Dec. 16, 2025.

    Randy Bowker retires from Alaska District after 33 years of service

    The Alaska District celebrated the retirement of Randy Bowker, deputy district engineer and director of programs and project management, in a ceremony at the district headquarters on Dec. 16. Brig. Gen. Joseph “Clete” Goetz, commanding general of the Pacific Ocean Division, and Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, district commander, presented multiple awards, including the Silver Order of the de Fleury Medal, Army Distinguished Civilian Service Medal and a certificate of retirement to Bowker at the event. In addition, staff from around the district offered gifts in appreciation of his service to the organization.
  • Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, former commander of the Pacific Palisades Emergency Field Office, visited debris removal sites in the Pacific Palisades on May 19. Palazzini served in his role as commander for nearly four months, providing critical leadership and engaging with the community in support of the debris removal mission. USACE photo by Melanie Peterson.

    USACE commander reflects on deployment to wildfire debris removal mission in southern California

    Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, commander of the USACE - Alaska District, served as the commander of the Pacific Palisades emergency field office, or EFO, for nearly four months in 2025. In this capacity, he served as a crucial leader and resource for other deployed personnel as they worked tirelessly to clear debris from the community, enabling residents and business owners to safely proceed in their recovery efforts.

  • September

    Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, district commander, joined Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham, commander of Alaska NORAD Region, Alaskan Command and Eleventh Air Force, and other distinguished guests to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Sep. 22. The center will be the first of its kind, enabling important joint and multinational force training. The $332 million project will construct a state-of-the-art, 150,000-square-foot, two-story building designed to withstand cold weather conditions. Areas include 11 simulator rooms, briefing rooms, mission operation centers, central server room, storage and more. The JITTC-E is designed to aid face-to-face mission planning, briefing, execution, supervision and debriefing at the highest tactical and operational levels of the Air Force.

    USACE breaks ground on Joint Integrated Test and Training Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

    Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, district commander, joined Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham, commander of Alaska NORAD Region, Alaskan Command and Eleventh Air Force, and other distinguished guests to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Sep. 22. The center will be the first of its kind, enabling important joint and multinational force training.
  • The newly constructed concrete barrier reaches up to 65 feet deep, adding stability to the foundations of Moose Creek Dam and limiting internal erosion during periods of flooding.

    Barrier wall project at Moose Creek Dam reaches completion

    Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, district commander, attended the ribbon cutting for the Moose Creek Dam Safety Modification Project near North Pole on Sep. 11. He joined representatives of the Fairbanks – North Star Borough and contractor as well as the USACE team in celebrating the significant milestone.
  • Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, district commander, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Dutch Harbor Channels Project in the community of Unalaska on Sep. 2. He joined Vincent Tutiakoff, mayor of Unalaska, Bil Homka, city manager, and members of the City Council to celebrate the critical milestone at the harbor.

    Alaska District celebrates ribbon cutting for Dutch Harbor Channels Project in Unalaska

    Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, district commander, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Dutch Harbor Channels Project in the community of Unalaska on Sep. 2. He joined Vincent Tutiakoff, mayor of Unalaska, Bil Homka, city manager, and members of the City Council to celebrate the critical milestone at the harbor.

  • August

    Command Sgt. Maj. Zachary Plummer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Pacific Ocean Division assists the street team of the City and Borough of Juneau to repair a temporary flood protection barrier along the Mendenhall River

    Temporary flood barriers prove effective during flood event in Juneau

    During the week of August 11, the Mendenhall Glacier released its yearly glacier lake outburst flood, also known as a jökulhlaup (Yah-cuh-laup). In preparation for the potential threat to infrastructure and public safety, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided temporary flood mitigation barriers to the City and Borough of Juneau last winter. While USACE continues to prepare a technical study that will help to define the parameters of an enduring flood risk mitigation solution, these barriers provided vital short-term protection to the community along the river this week by holding back the glacial water released from Suicide Basin and performing well during the peak of the floodwaters.
  • Senior leaders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Alaska District attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Barrow Coastal Erosion Project in the community of Utqiagvik on Aug. 11. The project will reduce the risk of storm damage to about five miles of coastline by construction of a rock revetment at the bluff area, building a protective berm and raising Stevenson Street.

    USACE breaks ground at coastal erosion project in Alaskan community of Utqiagvik

    Representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Alaska District participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Barrow Coastal Erosion Project in the community of Utqiagvik on Aug. 11. They joined representatives of the North Slope Borough and the contractor to celebrate the construction of the critical shoreline protection, which began in July after the first batch of armor rock arrived from Nome on the 28th.

  • April

    United States and Bangladesh officials celebrated the handover of the Khonjonighona Government Primary School and Multipurpose Disaster Shelter in eastern Bangladesh in October 2024. The school is constructed with the classrooms on the second and third floors to provide a safe area for the community during a flooding emergency.

    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

    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. The project is a collaborative effort between the USACE Marine Design Center and the National Science Foundation (NSF) that aims to enhance cargo transport capabilities in Winter Quarters Bay.

    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

    Thanh Tuy School

    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.