Galveston District News

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.

USACE Hosts Lone Star Warriors Outdoors Combat Veteran Deer Hunt

By Luke Waack, Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 20:00:00 GMT

For the last five years, USACE Galveston District (SWG) has partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens and the non-profit Lone Star Warriors Outdoors (LSWO) to offer combat veterans the chance to assist USACE in managing the deer population at the reservoirs.

SWG, City of Wharton kick off Colorado River Levee Project Phase 1

Carlos Gomez — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 22:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District and the City of Wharton, Texas, celebrated the official beginning of their Colorado River Levee Project Phase 1 with a groundbreaking ceremony in Wharton, November 29, 2023.

Advanced Data Section Offers SWG cutting-edge remote sensing technologies

Luke Waack — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 21:00:00 GMT

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) team members are using new tools to complete mission essential tasks like mapping, surveying, and construction and infrastructure inspections. The Galveston District’s (SWG) Advanced Data Section is now utilizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Unmanned Survey Vessels (USV) to deliver innovative solutions in data collection and analysis for projects, according to Heng-Wei (David) Tsai, P.E., Advanced Data Section chief.

Better Together – USS Tautog Submariners reunite on Veterans Day

Luke Waack — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 19:00:00 GMT

Former crew members of the USS Tautog (SSN-639) and their families reunited on Veterans Day at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG) Jadwin Building, for their first large group meeting since the submarine was decommissioned 27 years ago.

SWG observes Hispanic Heritage Month with some heat

By SWG Office of Public Affairs — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 19:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG) celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) with a presentation and taste testing at the district’s headquarters, October 5, 2023. SWG’s Hispanic Employment Program Manager Carlos Gomez and group of panelists presented ‘¡Caliente!: A presentation on the origins of spicy food’ to the attending audience and those tuning in remotely via WebEx.

Wallisville Lake Project hosts 8th Annual Lone Star Warriors Outdoors Combat Injured Veteran Gator Hunt

By Luke Waack, Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 17:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG) hosted the 8th Annual Lone Star Warriors Outdoors Gator Hunt at its Wallisville Lake Project location, Sept. 28 to Sept. 30, 2023. Six veterans took part in the event, which USACE co-hosted in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Chambers County Emergency Medical Services, and Lone Star Warriors Outdoors (LSWO)—a Texas-based nonprofit 501c3 organization.

SWG hosts regulatory workshop

Carlos Gomez — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG) hosted a workshop on their regulatory program September 21, 2023.

Galveston District holds FY23 4th Quarter Army Professional Awards Ceremony

Luke Waack — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 16:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG) held its Fiscal Year 2023, 4th Quarter Army Professional Awards Ceremony and Townhall at the Jadwin Building in Galveston, Texas, Sept. 7, 2023. More than 100 District employees attended the ceremony and townhall in person, and many more attended virtually.

MVN shares lessons learned with SWG Internal Review

DoD News — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 20:00:00 GMT

Within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Internal Review (IR) supports the local commander and their staff by improving programs and operations through independent analytical reviews and studies, or audits. After 14 years with USACE New Orleans District (MVN) IR, and 29 years of total audit experience, Donna Williams, MVN IR chief, has some lessons learned to share with new auditors, especially when it comes to conducting an audit during an Emergency Management response to a natural disaster. “The main idea for the emergency missions is to get in and do the work and get out,” Williams said. “The whole key is for us to stay out of the way, but what we do is extremely valuable.”

USACE Galveston District Industry Day

By Luke Waack, Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 17:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG) hosted it’s Summer 2023 Industry Day at Moody Gardens, Aug. 22, 2023. More than 300 people attended the Industry Day, including more than 140 small business representatives, larger business representatives, and non-federal government partners from Texas.

Multipurpose Vessel Brandy Station brings dredge, heavy lift, disaster relief capabilities to Galveston District

By Luke Waack, Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:00:00 GMT

A 10-person crew of USACE civilians brought the Multipurpose Vessel (MPV) Brandy Station to Galveston this week. The MPV Brandy Station will work on missions previously completed by the MPV Snell. The Snell worked in the Galveston District from 2017 to 2023. The Brandy Station made it from Wilmington, N.C. to Galveston in seven days. Talon Smith is the captain of the ship, and the crew works 16 days on, then takes 12 days off.

Galveston District Holds Tabletop Exercise for Hurricane Preparedness

By Luke Waack, Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:00:00 GMT

Dozens of people attended in person and dozens more via the web as District Division chiefs conducted a walk-through of a simulated hurricane.