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  • June

    The cargo container marine vessel PAC Seginus steams north with a cargo of wind turbine blades in the Houston Shipping Channel as the crew of the USACE Galveston District survey boat Tanner II waits for the ship to pass.

    Galveston District survey team conducts post dredge survey in Houston Shipping Channel

    USACE survey teams make a detailed map of the sea floor before a dredge operation to estimate the amount of material to be removed and after the dredge has completed work on the section to calculate and verify that the contract work was completed. If the dredge material is deposited offshore a survey team will make a third map of the sand added to the ocean floor.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District Commander Col. Rhett Blackmon delivers a recorded message for the district's Juneteenth observance, June 12, 2023. “Juneteenth commemorates the day enslaved Black people of Texas learned they were finally free from their bondage,” Blackmon said. “This momentous celebration has its roots right here in our own home of Galveston, Texas.”

    Galveston District hosts Juneteenth observance

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District held a Juneteenth observance ceremony, June 12, 2023. Galveston District Equal Employment Manager Dr. Rose Caballero served as guest speaker for the observance, held at the district’s headquarters and online via WebEx.
  • Tina Le, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District civil engineer, discovered the Department of the Army Fellows program as a junior in college. After graduating Lamar University in 2021 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering, she began a two year Fellowship in Port Arthur, Texas.

    DA Fellow becomes full time engineer

    Tina Le, civil engineer, is one of the latest members of the Army Fellows Program to complete a 2-year fellowship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). For the last two years, she has been working in the USACE Galveston District’s Port Arthur field office.

  • May

    Dr. Rev. Thich Hang Dat, left, AAPI Heritage Month speaker talks about the benefits of meditation as a personal practice for stress management. Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, May 18, 2023, in the Jadwin Building Conference Room with dozens attending in person and dozens more watching online. Ms. Thanh Nguyen EEO Asian American Pacific Islander Program Manager organized the event with the aim to honor and highlight the diverse culture, heritage, achievements, and contributions of the AAPI community throughout history. This year's theme, "Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity," selected by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC), highlights the leadership potential within the AAPI community. We encourage our community to study, observe, and celebrate the AAPI today and every day in support and recognition of the history and culture of this community.

    SWG holds AAPI heritage observance

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District held an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month observance with a ceremony and presentation at the District headquarters.
  • a group of people in the foreground are seated looking at a large screen with a PowerPoint slide with different funny photos of cats use to describe categories of hurricanes.

    Are You Ready: Galveston District gets prepared with hurricane readiness townhall

    June 1 will mark the beginning of hurricane season, which lasts through November 30. In preparation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston held a Hurricane Preparedness Townhall meeting for district staff, May 11, 2023. Dozens of people attended in person and dozens more attended and asked questions via the web.
  • Carol Carrasco (left), was recently recognized as the 2023 "Administrative Professional of the Year" for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District. Carrasco was nominated by Dr. Kelly Burks-Copes (right), chief of the Galveston District's Mega Projects Division (MPD) Program Support. A seven-year veteran of the U.S. Army, Carrasco joined the USACE in 2020. Recognized for her hard-charging attitude and ability to complete the difficult, she was selected as one of the first employees assigned to the MPD in early 2022.

    Carrasco named SWG's 2023 'Administrative Professional of the Year'

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District named Carol Carrasco as “Administrative Professional of the Year” during a ceremony recently, highlighting the essential role administrative professionals play to support the District's mission.

  • March

    Each March, the Department of Defense pays tribute to the women who, through determination and contributions, have shaped American history and whose efforts continue to pave the way forward. This year’s theme, chosen by the National Women’s History Alliance, is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.”

    SWG holds Women’s History Month observance

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District observed Women’s History Month with an online presentation March 21, 2023. This year’s theme, chosen by the National Women’s History Alliance, is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.”
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District Commander Col. Rhett Blackmon [left] recognizes several "Champions of the Coast" for their efforts during an awards ceremony, March 2, 2023. The ceremony recognized employees for their significant individual achievements and group accomplishments during the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2023.

    SWG holds FY23 2nd quarter awards ceremony

    District Commander Col. Rhett A. Blackmon and Deputy District Engineer Byron Williams recognized nearly 100 “Champions of the Texas Coast” during the Fiscal Year 2023 Second Quarter Awards Ceremony, held March 2, 2023, at the Jadwin Building and virtually via WebEx.

  • February

    Chris Frabotta, Chief of Operations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District, delivers a presentation on “Galveston District’s Beneficial use of Dredged Material,” during the winter edition of the biannual Stakeholder Partnering Forum (SPF) at Galveston Island’s Moody Gardens Convention Center. This SPF’s theme is “Partnering for a Sustainable Future.” The Galveston District conducts semi-annual SPFs with non-federal sponsors, customers and agency partners to collaborate on best practices regarding programs ranging from ecosystem restoration to flood risk management, maintaining and improving Texas coastal navigation systems, and regulatory oversight of U.S. waters. U.S. Army photo by Trevor Welsh.

    Galveston District holds Winter 2023 Stakeholder Partnering Forum

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District hosted the winter edition of its biannual Stakeholder Partnering Forum (SPF) February 15, 2023.

  • December

    Several U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District employees received Certificates of Achievement for their efforts in their respective programs and projects. District Commander Col. Rhett A. Blackmon (left) recognized more than 100 “Champions of the Texas Coast” during the Fiscal Year 2023 First Quarter Awards Ceremony, held December 1, 2022, at the Jadwin Building and virtually via WebEx.

    SWG holds FY23 1st quarter awards ceremony

    District Commander Col. Rhett A. Blackmon and Deputy District Engineer Byron Williams recognized more than 100 “Champions of the Texas Coast” during the Fiscal Year 2023 First Quarter Awards Ceremony, December 1, 2022, at the Jadwin Building and virtually via WebEx.

  • November

    Brig. Gen. Antoinette R. Gant was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on October 28, 2022, becoming the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) first active-duty African-American female general officer. Gant held her promotion ceremony at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M University in Texas. She graduated from Prairie View A&M University as a distinguished military graduate with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and a commission in the Army’s Engineer Regiment. She holds a Master of Science in engineer management from Missouri University of Science and Technology, and a Master of Science in national resource strategy from the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. She is also a certified Project Management Professional.

    SPD commander hopes to inspire new generations into USACE, STEAM careers

    Colonel Antoinette R. Gant proudly stands facing a packed room of family, friends, and colleagues. Her eyes are beaming. Her smile can’t be contained. She not only commands the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) South Pacific Division; she’s in complete command of the attention in the room. Her husband, son, and daughter join her on a small stage. With careful hands, her family unveils two shiny silver stars from decorative boxes. That’s the last time her family—and anyone else, for that matter—will see her in a colonel’s uniform.

  • October

    As part of its National Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) celebration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District held a special presentation—and tasting—on Hispanic cuisine, October 12. Galveston’s Hispanic Employment Program Manager gave a brief history on the influences of Hispanic cuisine and—with the help of several District employees—treated attendants to a sample tasting of several traditional dishes from throughout Latin America.

    SWG gets a brief history, taste of Hispanic cuisine

    As part of its National Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) celebration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District held a special presentation—and tasting—on Hispanic cuisine, October 12.
  • [From left to right] U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston Deputy District Engineer Byron Williams and District Commander Col. Rhett A. Blackmon discuss their collaborative efforts with non-federal partners during the Fall 2022 Stakeholder Partnering Forum, October 6, 2022. The forum helps the Galveston District identify opportunities to better support stakeholder commitments and emerging interests for planning studies, preconstruction, engineering and, construction, operations and maintenance.

    SWG holds Fall 2022 Stakeholder Partnering Forum

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District hosted the fall edition of its biannual Stakeholder Partnering Forum (SPF) at its command headquarters, October 6.

  • September

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District Commander Col. Rhett A. Blackmon (far left) awards the Matagorda Ship Channel Project Delivery Team with a group certificate of achievement during an award ceremony, September 29. (Starting second from left) Pictured are: Lisa Finn; Ashley Neil, Konstantinos Kostarelos; and Kari Gauntt. The team worked with the project's non-federal sponsor to design and provide oversight to improve navigation along the Matagorda Ship Channel.

    SWG holds FY22 4th Qtr awards ceremony

    District Commander Col. Rhett A. Blackmon and Deputy District Engineer Byron Williams recognized more than 100 “Champions of the Texas Coast” during the Fiscal Year 2022 Fourth Quarter Awards Ceremony, held September 29, 2022, at the Jadwin Building and virtually via WebEx.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District Commander Col. Rhett A. Blackmon brings employees up to speed on the events leading into the new fiscal year during a townhall meeting, September 29. Having officially taken command back in July, Blackmon shared his insights on learning about all the different projects, meeting with non-federal partners, and getting to know the District during his first two months at Galveston.

    SWG holds 4th Qtr townhall

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District held a townhall meeting, September 29, to address many of the trending topics within the District during the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2022.
  • he U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a panel discussion on Hispanic participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers, September 21, 2022. The Galveston District’s Hispanic Employment Program Manager, Carlos Gomez, assembled the panel of distinguished USACE engineers, to include: Construction Branch Chief Pablo Hernandez; Project Engineer Griselda Ahumada; Project Manager Eduardo Irigoyen; Water Management Section Chief Jennifer Ramos-Ortiz; Program Manager Rick Villagomez; Civil Engineer Dora Molina; and Civil Engineer Martin Puente.

    SWG celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with panel on STEM

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a panel discussion on Hispanic participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers, September 21.

  • August

    Kelsey Ciarrocca, a cartographer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District's Real Estate Division, was recently named USACE’s “Innovator of the Year” for her pioneering work with real-time data and Smartsheet—a cloud-based program. In a nutshell, she took large amounts of data, which would normally take days to process, and made it digestible for USACE and other entities to better work together. On top of that, Ciarrocca made the information accessible within fractions of a second.

    Kelsey Ciarrocca named USACE ‘Innovator of the Year’

    Kelsey Ciarrocca really believes in working smarter, not harder. You could argue that her philosophy put the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District on the map.

  • July

    A Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle—the world’s rarest and most endangered sea turtle species—nests on a new beach near the corner of Seawall and 86th Street. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District’s beach renourishment project helped make the nesting possible by replenishing Babe's Beach with sand provided through the District’s routine maintenance dredging of the Galveston Channel.

    Kemp’s ridley sea turtle lays eggs on replenished beach

    Galveston’s beaches are no strangers to visitors, especially during the summer. Each year, more that 7 million people come to vacation here. This year, however, a very special visitor made Galveston it’s preferred summer getaway destination. A Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle—the world’s rarest and most endangered sea turtle species—nested on a new beach near the corner of Seawall and 86th Street.
  • Col. Kenneth Reed (far left) passes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District command flag to Col. Rhett Blackmon (second from left) during a change of command ceremony at the Galveston District headquarters, July 15.

    Col. Rhett Blackmon takes command of Galveston District

    Col. Rhett A. Blackmon assumed command from Col. Tim R. Vail as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District commander during a change of command ceremony, held July 15 at the District’s headquarters in front of a crowd of family, District employees and distinguished visitors.

  • June

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Southwest Division Commander, Col. Kenneth Reed speaks to Galveston District employees during a townhall meeting at the Jadwin Building June 23.

    New SWD Commander holds townhall

    Galveston District employees heard directly from the Southwest Division Commander, Col. Kenneth Reed, during a townhall meeting at the Jadwin Building June 23.