Galveston District News

SWG Hosts Latest Industry Day

By Luke Waack, Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District hosted its latest Industry Day, Feb. 27, 2026. Galveston District Commander Colonel David W. Dake began his opening remarks by welcoming almost 200 predominantly civil works industry representatives to the District Headquarters in Galveston, Texas.

Deputy Commander for SWG Mega Projects Division Retires

By Luke Waack, Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 19:30:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG), bid a fond farewell to Lieutenant Colonel Ian P. O’Sullivan, SWG Deputy Commander for the Mega Projects Division in a ceremony at the Gemini Building in Houston, Texas, Jan. 22, 2026. Major General (retired) Ed Jackson hosted and presided over the ceremony.

SWG Co-Hosts 10th Annual Wallisville Combat Veteran Gator Hunt

Luke Waack — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 18:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG) hosted the 10th Annual Lone Star Warriors Outdoors Gator Hunt at its Wallisville Lake Project location, Sept. 14 to 17, 2025.

SWG Commemorates 'Great Storm of 1900', Participates in Historic, Guinness World Record Event

Carlos Gomez — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 20:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG), along with the City of Galveston and Guinness World Records, observed the 125th anniversary of the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900, during a ceremony at the Galveston Seawall, September 6, 2025.

Adam Tallman Wins 2025 USACE Cost Engineer of the Year For Civil Works

Luke Waack — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Adam Tallman, a Galveston District certified professional engineer, has been named the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Cost Engineer of the Year 2025 for Civil Works. The Cost Engineer of the Year Civil Works Award recognizes one individual each year for their contributions to the cost engineering profession in the last three fiscal years preceding the award.

SWG Champion Earns USACE Engineer of the Year Honors

Luke Waack — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 19:00:00 GMT

Dr. Mohammad “Shahidul” Islam, Ph.D., P.E., BCWRE, a subject matter expert in the Hydrology & Hydraulic Branch of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District, has been named Engineer of the Year for the USACE Hydrology, Hydraulics & Coastal Community of Practice (HH&C CoP) for Fiscal Year 2025.

USACE Galveston District Holds Change of Command

Carlos Gomez — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Col. David Dake assumed command from Col. Rhett Blackmon as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG) commander during a change of command ceremony, July 29, 2025, at the district’s headquarters. On top of handing over command to Dake, Blackmon also celebrated his retirement from the Army after 26 years of service.

Hopkins Named 'Outstanding Logistician of the Year'

Luke Waack — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 22:00:00 GMT

Sequoia Hopkins, of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG), was named the USACE "Outstanding Logistician of the Year".

SWG Celebrates 145 years

Carlos Gomez — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG) celebrates its 145th birthday today. Since its establishment in 1880, SWG has played a pivotal role in maintaining channels and improving harbors, laying the foundation that would make Texas a leader in commercial navigation and trade. Though its mission has grown over nearly a century and a half, the district continues to embody the spirit of resilience that has gotten coastal Texas through some of it most challenging times.

Excellence in Action: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

By Luke Waack, Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 20:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG), honored the life and memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a ceremony at district headquarters on King’s birthday, Jan. 15, 2025. Dr. Paul A. Cox, SWG Engineering Technician, gave the invocation.

Meet the Brazos River Floodgates Lockmaster

Luke Waack — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 18:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG), has operated the Brazos River Floodgates since 1943. Located seven miles southwest of Freeport, Texas, the Brazos River Flood Gates (BRFG) have been instrumental in mitigating sediment deposits and aiding navigation at the intersection of the Brazos River and the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway for eight decades. The primary mission of BRFG Champions is to facilitate the safe navigation of commercial and recreation vessels through the Gulf Intracoastal Water Way (GIWW) and Brazos River interchange, which currently includes a 60-degree angle change from the West Gate and the East Gate. Jesse Deshotels has been the Brazos River Floodgates Lockmaster since 2022.

Hydraulic engineer learns key element in water infrastructure projects

Carlos Gomez, SWG Office of Public Affairs — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 21:00:00 GMT

Hydraulic engineers specialize in the properties and movement of liquids, namely water. Their job entails making highly educated guesses on how water will interact with infrastructure like dams, bridges, and canals. However, a young U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) hydraulic engineer’s approach focuses on another—and most important—element tied to their projects, the human element.

Get Ready for Hurricane Season! Galveston District Holds Hurricane Prep Exercise

Luke Waack — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 20:00:00 GMT

The Galveston District routinely conducts hurricane preparedness exercises in efforts to continuously execute their mission should the need arise. The district has been instrumental in hurricane and storm management and recovery efforts for more than 100 years since the initial construction of the Galveston Seawall was completed in 1904.

Real Estate Team Building 'Beautifies the Bucket' for beach cleanup

Luke Waack — Tue, 07 May 2024 21:00:00 GMT

Because of its location along the Gulf of Mexico, Texas receives 10 times more trash on its beaches than most other Gulf states. The Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees is responsible for keeping this litter off the local beaches. This mission requires a lot of effort, and a lot of waste containers, 4,000 to be exact. To help spruce up the trash receptacles, the Park Board sponsors a “Beautify the Bucket” contest, where community members can decorate barrels with their own art creations. This year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG), Real Estate Division wanted to join the beach beautification effort. “We decided to do it as a (in-house) real estate competition, as well as entering it there,” said Britney M. Nealon, SWG realty specialist. The Real Estate Division was split into four teams; the Jellyfish, Work Smart Not Hard, Team Cutthroat and Art and the Perception of Real(i)ty.

SWG Honors Administrative Professionals of the Year

Luke Waack — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 21:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG), named two “Administrative Professionals of the Year” for 2024, in a ceremony at the Jadwin Building, April 23, 2024. Six administrative professionals were nominated by their offices: Mellissa Delehanty, Office of Counsel (OC), Mostafa Elsaka, Contracting, Leilani Gonzalez, Southern Area Office, Kelvin Harrison, Houston Project Office, Susan Martin, Project Management (PM-J), and Shari McDonald, Port Arthur Resident Office.

Wallisville Lake Project staff clean up abandoned crab traps

By Luke Waack, Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 22:00:00 GMT

Each year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division (TPWD) closes crab fishing with wire mesh crab traps for ten days to give volunteers the opportunity to round up lost and abandoned traps. The closure is traditionally in late February or early March. Unattended traps “ghost fish” and kill blue crabs and other species unnecessarily and can also create a navigation hazard for boaters. According to a press release from TPWD, since the “Crab Trap Roundup” began 22 years ago, volunteers have removed 42,500 derelict traps, saving an estimated 700,000 blue crabs, a valuable natural resource. Each year at the Wallisville Lake Project, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG) personnel join the Crab Trap Roundup, while they patrol.

Galveston District celebrates 144 years

Carlos Gomez, SWG Office of Public Affairs — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 20:00:00 GMT

On February 25, 1880, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) established its first engineer district in Texas on an island off the Gulf Coast. One hundred forty-four years, 52 district commanders, and several major hurricanes later, the Galveston District (SWG) continues to play a key role in keeping the country’s vital waterways open and protecting coastal Texas communities.

USACE's ERDC and SWG Team Up To Provide Important Federal Acquisitions Training To Joint Audience

By Luke Waack, Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 20:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG), hosted PROSPECT (Proponent-Sponsored Engineer Corps Training) Course 183, Formal Source Selection, at the Jadwin Building in Galveston, Texas, Feb. 13-16, 2024. Source selection is the federal government’s process for selecting contractors to perform work or provide a supply or to construct a building. Dr. Christopher Barnett, USACE, Engineer Research & Development Center (ERDC), Business Operations Branch (BOB) chief, Vicksburg, Miss., led the team of five instructors.

USACE holds Industry Day in Galveston

Luke Waack — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 21:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG) held its latest Industry Day, Jan. 17, 2024. Industry Day is an opportunity for SWG to communicate face-to-face with small businesses the requirements for doing business with USACE.

SWG holds holiday-themed awards ceremony and townhall

Carlos Gomez — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 21:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG) held its Fiscal Year 2024 First Quarter Army Professional Awards Ceremony and Townhall at the Jadwin Building in Galveston, Texas, Dec. 14, 2023. More than 150 District employees attended the ceremony and townhall in person, and many more virtually.