In 1898, a small group of Army engineers, under the command of Capt. James J. Meyler, began building a breakwater in San Pedro Bay. Over the years, the project evolved into the superport complex of Los Angeles/Long Beach, now one of the largest artificial harbors in the world.
From that small critical mass, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District expanded into a dynamic public engineering agency. Some of the most illustrious names in U.S. military and engineering history have dotted the rosters of the LA District, including both Generals MacArthur, father and son.
Today, more than 700 dedicated professionals and support staff provide extensive planning, design, engineering and construction expertise. Our mission is to perform civil works, military construction, real estate operations, regulatory actions and support for other agencies.
The LA District is one of the largest in the U.S., covering some 226,000-square miles across southern California, southern Nevada, a slice of Utah and all of Arizona. We operate in the second-largest urban area in America, and we work in small farming communities. Our customers and stakeholders have one of the strongest political bases in the country, with about 54 members of Congress in our area — more than any other Corps district.