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Author: Luke Waack
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  • September

    SWG Deputy Commander, Lt. Col. Darryl W. Kothmann presided over the meeting and spoke of 4th Qtr. operations, observances, and notable events.

    Galveston District Holds Quarterly Townhall Meeting, Marks Milestones

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG), held its 4th Quarter, Fiscal Year 2024, Townhall meeting and marked several important milestones and observances at the district headquarters in Galveston, Texas, Sept. 20, 2024. SWG Deputy Commander, Lt. Col. Darryl W. Kothmann presided over the meeting and spoke of 4th Qtr. operations, observances, and notable events.

  • August

    Deshotels began working as a district summer hire in 1999 and began his full-time career with SWG in 2004. “I started out as a lock operator at the Colorado River Locks (CRL),” Deshotels said. “I was a lock operator for five years and got promoted to maintenance mechanic.” Deshotels worked as a maintenance mechanic there for 12 years before he transferred to the BRFG to take over the Lockmaster role.

    Meet the Brazos River Floodgates Lockmaster

    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.

  • June

    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.

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

    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.

  • May

    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.

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

    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.

  • April

    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.

    SWG Honors Administrative Professionals of the Year

    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.

  • January

    Col. Rhett Blackmon, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG) commander, gives opening remarks during USACE SWG Industry Day at Moody Gardens, Galveston, Texas, Jan. 17, 2024. Industry Day is an opportunity for SWG to engage with businesses face to face, collaborate on projects and give contractors important information about contracting with USACE. U.S. Army photo by Luke Waack.

    USACE holds Industry Day in Galveston

    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.

  • November

    This photograph was captured by Rebecca Capps, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG), physical scientist and drone operator, as she flew a Skydio X2D quadcopter, a rotary wing drone, over a section of the Trinity River, Nov. 15, 2023.

    Advanced Data Section Offers SWG cutting-edge remote sensing technologies

    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.
  • The “Terrible T” – as it was affectionately known – was a Sturgeon-class submarine, a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSN) in service with the U.S. Navy from the 1960s until 2004. They were the “workhorses” of the Navy’s attack submarine fleet through much of the Cold War. The Sturgeon class was phased out and replaced by Los Angeles, Seawolf and Virginia class submarines.

    Better Together – USS Tautog Submariners reunite on Veterans Day

    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.

  • September

    The Dept. of the Army Civilian Service Commendation Medal (formerly the Commander's Award for Civilian Service) is an honorary award presented by the U.S. Dept. of the Army to civilian employees for commendable service or achievement.

    Galveston District holds FY23 4th Quarter Army Professional Awards Ceremony

    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.

  • 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.
  • 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.