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  • March

    The north view of the Painted Rock Dam can be seen in this March 24 picture near Gila Bend, Arizona. Painted Rock Dam is a major flood control project in the Gila River Drainage Basin, constructed and operated by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District.

    LA District leaders tour Painted Rock Dam project

    Col. Julie Balten, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, and David Van Dorpe, deputy district engineer for the LA District, toured the Painted Rock Dam, a flood risk-reduction project, located on the Gila River in Maricopa County March 24 near Gila Bend.
  • A team that includes subject-matter experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the California Department of Public Health and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services conduct a final inspection of work at Beverly Community Hospital in Montebello, California, March 19, 2021, as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s support to California in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Corps completes final inspection of Beverly Community Hospital COVID-19 additions

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers led a final inspection of work March 19 at Beverly Community Hospital as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s support to California in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • February

    Pictured is an artist rendering of the Joint Simulation Environment facility at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Officials broke ground for the facility during a Feb. 18 ceremony at the base. The $34.4-million-dollar project is slated for completion by the end of August 2022.

    Corps joins Air Force to break ground on simulation facility at Edwards AFB

    Senior officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, alongside Air Force officials, helped break ground on a $34.4-million Joint Simulation Environment facility Feb. 18 at Edwards Air Force Base.
  • Martin Reed, contracting officer’s representative with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rapid Response Technical Center of Expertise at the Omaha District, left, provides project updates to Brig. Gen. Paul Owen, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division commander, center, during Owen’s Feb. 9 visit to Beverly Community Hospital in Montebello, California. Accompanying Owen were Col. Julie Balten, Los Angeles District commander, second from right, and David Van Dorpe, LA District deputy engineer.

    South Pacific Division commander reviews medical upgrades at LA-area hospitals battling pandemic

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division commander visited two Southern California hospitals Feb. 9, 2021, to meet with on-site personnel and examine construction progress first-hand on hospital upgrades in support of COVID-19 relief efforts.

  • January

    Ivan Caceres, left, quality assurance and construction control representative with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, describes the layout of the new Community Living Center to Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commanding general and chief of engineers, during his visit Jan. 13, 2021, to the construction site at the Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System complex in Long Beach, California.

    Corps’ top leaders tour, receive update on VA Long Beach Healthcare System projects

    Top leaders with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers made a Jan. 13 site visit to the Department of Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System medical complex to see the progress of two projects totaling $350 million.

  • December

    From left to right, David Van Dorpe, LA District’s deputy District engineer; Col. Julie Balten, LA District commander, and Edwards Air Force Base Fire Chief Timothy Johnson pose for a picture Dec. 15 at the new Flightline Fire Station at the base. The fire station, designed by I.E. Pacific, Inc., recently won the Facility Design Honor Award – the highest achievement – in the 2020 U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center Design Award Program. The Los Angeles District was the design agent for the facility. The new $44-million, 41,000-square-foot-facility replaced the old fire station, which was in service for more than 50 years.

    Edwards Air Force Base officials cut ribbon on new fire station, applaud Corps, contractor for award-winning design

    Edwards Air Force Base officials cut the ribbon on an award-winning airfield fire station Dec. 8 during an intimate, socially distanced ceremony at the base in California. The Flightline Fire Station, designed by I.E. Pacific, Inc., recently won the Facility Design Honor Award – the highest achievement – in the 2020 U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center Design Award Program. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District was the design agent for the facility.
  • Professionals with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District representing a variety of technical disciplines lent their time and expertise to public stakeholders Dec. 3, 2020, during the 2020 Los Angeles River Flood Awareness Workshop.

    Workshop welcomes stakeholders to discuss LA River mission with Corps’ experts

    Professionals with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District representing a variety of technical disciplines lent their time and expertise to public stakeholders Dec. 3, 2020, during the 2020 Los Angeles River Flood Awareness Workshop.
  • Tricia Balluff, city of Phoenix environmental programs coordinator, briefs Col. Julie Balten, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District commander and David Van Dorpe, deputy district engineer Dec. 3 at the Tres Rios Environmental Restoration site.

    District leadership visit Arizona project sites

    Col. Julie Balten, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, and David Van Dorpe, deputy district engineer, toured Arizona-Nevada Area Office projects Nov. 30 to Dec. 4 in Arizona. Her first visit to Arizona since assuming command in July. Balten met stakeholders, spoke with employees, presented awards and viewed key projects.

  • October

    The CFC goal for the Los Angeles District is to ensure all of its employees are provided the campaign information and how to contribute, if they choose to do so.

    LA District employees participate in Combined Federal Campaign to assist local charities

    The CFC is the only authorized solicitation of employees in the federal workplace on behalf of charitable organizations. Its mission is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, and cost efficient and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all, according to the Office of Personnel Management, which manages the campaign.
  • A California Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk places a 3,000-pound sandbag at the Whittier Narrows Dam Basin in Montebello, California, as part of an exercise during which the district teamed up with the California Army National Guard to demonstrate flood-mitigation capabilities.

    LA District teams up with California Guard for flood-control exercise

    Partnership was the keyword Oct. 8 as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District teamed up with the California Army National Guard for a flood-control exercise at the Whittier Narrows Dam Basin.

  • September

    LA District Park Rangers Annel Montsalvo, left, and Linda C. Babcock, hand out information to a family participating in Los Angeles County’s Overnight Family Camping and Fishing Sept. 26 at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in Montebello, California. Montsalvo and other LA District park rangers used the event as an opportunity to educate members of the public on topics such as water safety, environmental stewardship and flood preparedness as part of National Public Lands Day.

    LA District park rangers focus on community outreach for 2020 National Public Lands Day

    This year presented unique challenges to federal agencies looking to engage the public in participating in National Public Lands Day, but U.S. Army Corps of Engineers districts were able to adapt using virtual and in-person outreach events with COVID-19 safety precautions in place.

  • July

    Col. Julie Balten formally marks her entry as the 63rd commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District during a modified passing-of-the-colors at the district’s change of command ceremony July 14, 2020,

    LA District hosts change of command ceremony at South El Monte Baseyard

    Col. Aaron Barta relinquished command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District to Col. Julie Balten during a change of command ceremony July 14 at the LA District’s South El Monte Baseyard.
  • Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Tickner relinquished his position as commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pacific Ocean Division to Col. Kirk E. Gibbs, during a social distance adherence change of command and responsibility ceremony, July 8.

    Pacific Ocean Division holds Change of Command & Responsibility Ceremony

    Brig. Gen. Thoma J. Tickner relinquished his position as commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Pacific Ocean Division to Col. Kirk E. Gibbs, during a social distance adherence change of command and responsibility ceremony, July 8. The Army division conducted the change of responsibility from Command Sgt. Maj. Patrickson Toussaint to Command Sgt. Maj. Douglas W. Galick.
  • .

    Army Corps Supports U.S. Army Recruitment Initiative

    The Army Corps’ New York District provided a floating venue for one of several of the Army’s National Hiring Days, an all-Army effort to inspire individuals across the nation to consider military service.

  • June

    Screenshot of USACE Recreation Areas Operations Dashboard

    New Interactive Tools in Support USACE’s Recreation Areas

    Through the Natural Resources Management (NRM) support team, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Institute for Water Resources (IWR) with the Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Environmental Lab have implemented new interactive Web tools to support USACE’s recreation areas in response to COVID-19 Pandemic.
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    From Army Corps to Peace Corps and back

    Patricia Fontanet, a water resources planner with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District, decided to put her Corps of Engineers-acquired skills to work in helping the people of La Trinidad, Philippines. She recently took on a seven-month assignment with the Peace Corps, working on projects such as developing a flood study, teaching disaster preparedness at elementary schools, and much more.
  • Capt. Carolyn N. Ortiz-Merced discusses the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District’s COVID-19 projects while serving as the battle captain in the district’s Emergency Operations Center during the fight against COVID-19.

    ERDC Soldiers serve in the fight against COVID-19

    Although the vast majority of employees with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) are Department of Defense civilians, the select few U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the ERDC are making a significant impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, Soldiers from across the ERDC have deployed around the country to aid in the fight against the disease, many mobilizing to “hotspots” to confront the unique challenges of fighting an unseen enemy.

  • May

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Park Ranger Mary Carmona secures the gate at the Deep Creek road entrance May 17. Vandals have continually cut the locks and removed the chains that secure that gate at several of the Corps Mojave River Dam basins entrances in the County of San Bernardino. The area also known as the “Deep Creek Spillway” is located on federal property and is restricted to authorized motor vehicles and personnel.

    District park rangers want public to know recreating at Mojave River Dam is not authorized

    LOS ANGELES – As COVID19 state and local government shelter-in-place restrictions loosen, local high desert residents may be for sure heading to their favorite watering hole, known to local residents as the “Deep Creek Spillway” this Memorial Day weekend.
  • This edition highlights protecting and preserving the environment, in support of Environmental Operating Principle #4. The content within this issue showcases the extraordinary environmental stewardship efforts across the Army.

    The Corps Environment - May 2020 issue now available

    The Corps Environment May 2020 issue is now available. This edition highlights protecting and preserving the environment, in support of USACE's Environmental Operating Principle #4, and showcases extraordinary environmental stewardship efforts across the Army.
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    Corps recruiting efforts shift online during COVID-19

    The Coronavirus Pandemic has greatly affected current practices and procedures for many companies.