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Author: John Budnik
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  • September

    A dozer begins grading a landfarming cell near the Tank Site E project near Nome, Alaska. Landfarming is a potential solution to meet the needs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District’s Formerly Used Defense Sites program across Alaska. The process includes removing contaminated soil from the source location, spreading it across an expansive area one to two feet thick, tilling consistently and then letting nature take control to degrade the pollutants.

    Landfarming offers viable environmental cleanup solution in the Arctic

    For environmental engineers at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District, vegetable crops and livestock are not landfarming. It is a method used to clean contaminated soil associated with an obsolete fuel storage tank in the Arctic.

  • August

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District is seeking qualified candidates in a variety of technical areas despite Army force reduction in Alaska. The organization has about 20 positions either pending announcement or currently advertised on the USA Jobs website, the official source of federal government employment listings. The project-funded agency’s workload is anticipated to increase with future military and civil works construction. However, the hiring actions reflect the organization’s mantra of striving to become faster, more affordable and better.

    Despite Army reductions, Corps of Engineers hiring in Alaska

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District is seeking qualified candidates in a variety of technical areas despite Army force reduction in Alaska.

  • July

    1st Lt. Marcus Farris’ (first row, third from left), quality assurance representative in the USACE – Alaska District’s Construction Division, competed for the first time with the All-Army Triathlon team June 7 in the 2015 U.S. Armed Forces Championships hosted by the Leon’s World Fastest Triathlon at Hammond, Indiana. According to the race results, he finished 17th out of 40 male competitors from all four branches, including members from the Canadian military. Farris completed the Olympic standard triathlon distances of a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride and 10 km run just under two hours. He trailed the leader by nine minutes.

    All-Army triathlete’s skills founded in preparation

    Underneath his quiet and cool demeanor, 1st Lt. Marcus Farris is ready to be unleashed on race days. A disciplined athlete, he has trained for many hours to represent and compete as a member of the All-Army Triathlon team.

  • June

    Jacob Kresel (right), senior park ranger and natural resource specialist, and Cole Van Beusekom (left), park ranger, are easy to recognize with their forest green uniforms, “Smokey bear” hats and Corps castle belt buckles. The opportunity to work at the Chena Project in North Pole is a fulfilling vocation for both.

    Corps park rangers share passion for outdoors, flood mitigation

    Jacob Kresel, senior park ranger and natural resource specialist, and Cole Van Beusekom, park ranger, are easy to recognize with their forest green uniforms, “Smokey bear” hats and Corps castle belt buckles. The opportunity to work at the Chena Project in North Pole is a fulfilling vocation for both.
  • Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Milhorn, deputy commanding general-support for Joint Task Force 505 during Operation Sahyogi Haat and commanding general of the Pacific Ocean Division, visited the Corps-built water well located at the Nepal Armed Police Force Headquarters in Halchowk, Kathmandu. Milhorn observed that the well survived the earthquake with minor repairs and provided water for more than 5,000 displaced citizens. The district managed the $1.3 million installation of seven wells, which range from 500 feet to 1,000 feet deep. Each one is complete with more than 6,500 gallons of water storage capacity, filtration system and emergency generator. Located throughout Kathmandu, each well can provide potable water for up to 15,000 people following a disaster event.

    Humanitarian assistance projects provide disaster relief in Nepal

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recently completed two humanitarian assistance construction projects that are now providing critical support services to the population of Kathmandu, Nepal, in the wake of the deadly earthquakes that struck in April and May.

  • May

    Since 2009, more than 7,800 tons of contaminated soil polluted the remote location of Test Well No. 9 near Umiat, a historic oil exploratory base camp. The conditions are harsh with the site located more than 100 miles from the nearest road system in the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska. Several long trains of snow-tracked machinery transported the material to the disposal staging area.

    Arctic Cleanup: Tough conditions no match for test well remediation

    Since 2009, more than 7,800 tons of contaminated soil polluted the remote location of Test Well No. 9 near Umiat, a historic oil exploratory base camp. The conditions are harsh with the site located more than 100 miles from the nearest road system in the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska. Operations at the site officially completed this year.

  • April

    Scooby, a boxer-breed dog, fell through thawing ice on the Eagle River April 18 near Anchorage leading her frantic owner to call for help. Luckily, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District employee Mike MacMillan, project manager in the Humanitarian Assistance Program, was home to answer the call from his neighbor in distress.

    Corps employee saves canine from watery demise

    Scooby, a boxer-breed dog, fell through thawing ice on the Eagle River April 18 near Anchorage leading her frantic owner to call for help. Luckily, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District employee Mike MacMillan, project manager in the Humanitarian Assistance Program, was home to answer the call from his neighbor in distress.

  • July

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District recently constructed a new 102-foot-tall radio tower July 2 near the headquarters building on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The structure will enhance the high-frequency radio capabilities of the district’s Emergency Management Office during a disaster. High-frequency radio allows global communications with outside partners when all other means of contact have failed.

    Proven technology remains viable disaster communication tool

    High-frequency radio has withstood the historical evolution of telecommunications and remains a relevant means to transmit information over long distances. The mode is used by emergency management organizations and amateur enthusiasts, also known as ham operators. Therefore, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District is currently upgrading its capabilities with a new antenna.

  • June

    Retired Col. Amos Mathews served as the district engineer from 1970-1973. He is one of 26 soldiers to have served as the Alaska District commander during the 68-year history of the organization. His image is displayed among a group of leaders that are now pillars of Corps engineering history in Alaska. An ecstatic Col. Christopher Lestochi, the current district commander, hosted Mathews during a visit to the headquarters building at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson June 9.

    Former district commander visits old stomping grounds

    Retired Col. Amos Mathews is one of 26 soldiers to have served as the Alaska District commander during the 68-year history of the organization. His image is displayed among a group of leaders that are now pillars of Corps engineering history in Alaska. An ecstatic Col. Christopher Lestochi, the current district commander, hosted Mathews during a visit to the headquarters building at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson June 9.

  • April

    Col. Christopher Lestochi (left), Alaska District commander, was present for Master Sgt. Darnyell Parker's recognition of promotion to the rank of sergeant major at the Joint Chief Master Sergeant and Sergeant Major Recognition Ceremony Feb. 21 with Parker's wife, Michele, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Parker is currently the noncommissioned officer in charge of the district's Military Contingency Contracting Team that helps support the humanitarian assistance program in Southeast Asia.

    Knack for negotiating leads Soldier to military contracting

    If speeding tickets kindled his Army career, then an act of generosity provided the spark. For a 20-year-old young man from Suffolk, Va., this was the case when his father’s best friend paid the traffic citations barring him from serving his country.