U.S. Army Col. Calvin Kroeger, Fort Worth District commander, recently met with Corps of Engineers' team members that are deployed to Maui supporting the debris cleanup mission from wildfires that swept through the small Hawaiian towns of Lahaina and Kula, Aug. 8, 2023. Pictured are members of the Recovery Field Office, the Joint Field Office and some members from the Emergency Field Office.

Danny Olivas, a resident engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Fort Worth District, retires after 41 years of federal service, the last 16 years with the Corps of Engineers. Olivas originally joined civil service with the Federal Aviation Administration. After 25 years working with the FAA, 2008 Olivas joined the Army Corps of Engineers' South Texas Area Office in 2008 as a project engineer. From 2016 2021 he was assigned to USACE’s European District with projects in Poland supporting infrastructure buildup of military bases. In 2021 he returned to the Fort Worth District’s South Texas Area Office and is ending his career as the resident engineer. During his time with STAO some of his more important projects were the USAF's Maltz Aquatic Training Center, the Airmen Training Center East and West Campus, the demolition of the historic Wilford Hall Hospital, the construction of the newest Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) at Kelly Field and the project to demolish the oldest ATCT in the Air Force, also at Kelly.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District Park Rangers Ryley Rosenbusch, left, and Alex Klepac rescued a teenager at Stillhouse Hollow Lake after the teen attempted to swim to an island 1,000 yards from the shore without a life jacket. They found the teen clinging to a semi-submerged piece of driftwood. The teen was badly sunburned and completely exhausted from his ordeal. But overall, the teen was none the worse for wear.

Brian Brandt, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Fort Worth District Resident Engineer and Contracting Officer’s Representative in Maui, is responsible for the oversight of contractor and Emergency Field Office Operations to oversee the cleanup efforts for the Maui Wildfires. As the Resident Engineer, Brian reviews all contractor work plans, submittals, invoices and contract documents for compliance. He ensures that all work is performed safely per FEMA requirements and in a manner that takes local Cultural and archaeological resources into close consideration.

Deanna (Dee) Pienaar, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Fort Worth District office engineer in Maui, makes observations of a structure to estimate the debris tonnage of a building scheduled to be demolished. Debris estimates are used to ensure correct payment to contracted debris removal firms assisting with wildfire cleanup. The Maui wildfires of Aug. 8, 2023, killed 101 people with two still missing, destroyed more than 1,600 residences, displaced nearly 10,000 people, and destroyed significant portions of downtown Lahaina, a major Maui tourist destination. Hawaii Governor Josh Green has referred to the Lahaina wildfires as the worst natural disaster in Hawaii history. (photo of 100 Kenui St taken with permission of property manager, Lynn Kenui, 808-276-8008)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Fort Worth District held their annual Administrative Professionals Day luncheon before a packed audience on April 30, at the City Club in Fort Worth. This year, leaders across the district nominated 11 well-deserving administrative professionals for the title of the Fort Worth District’s Administrative Professional of the Year. Col. Calvin Kroeger, commander of the Fort Worth District, presents a crystal castle to this years’ winner, Ms. Lynn Chapman. Chapman has worked for the district for over 19 years, supporting eight different commanders. She is known throughout the district as being wise, fair, and fastidious towards any documents that would see the commander’s eyes.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Fort Worth District held their annual Administrative Professionals Day luncheon before a packed audience on April 30, at the City Club in Fort Worth. Administrative professionals are the backbone of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Fort Worth District, providing essential support and ensuring the smooth operation of daily tasks. From managing budgets and coordinating schedules to handling correspondence and organizing files, these professionals play a crucial role in keeping the district running efficiently.

A large group of potential candidates made their way through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Southwestern Division recruiting space during a first-of-its-kind whole Army career fair. Each of the division’s four districts had personnel on hand to speak to those that may be interested in a career with USACE. The event was the brainchild of the Army’s Civilian Human Resources Agency. By combining active duty, reserve, and guard components, as well as civilian employment opportunities, the total Army recruitment and outreach event was meant to highlight the Army as the employer of choice in the metroplex.

The path of totality for 2024 solar eclipse passed over U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District's Bardwell Lake. Located in Ennis, Texas, the lake afforded a favorable location to view the eclipse from. With more than four minutes of totality duration, it gave photographers and enthusiasts ample time to enjoy the bucket list event. The max eclipse occurred at 1:42 p.m. While sometimes blocked by cloud cover, much of the event was readily viewable. The "diamond ring" during the eclipse is when a single bright spot remains and the sun's atmosphere forms the ring's band. The green flash occurs as the suns light refracts or separates as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere.

U.S. Army Col. James Schultze, deputy commander at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Southwestern Division, speaks at a ceremony dedicating the Maltz Special Warfare Aquatic Training Center, located on Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex, April 2, 2024. Dedicated in honor of Master Sgt. Michael Maltz, a former U.S. Air Force Pararescue Indoctrination Course instructor at Lackland AFB, this state-of-the-art facility - the first of its kind for the Army Corps of Engineers - was authorized in fiscal year 2020 and awarded as a design-bid-build project on June 25, 2021. (US Army photo by Richard Bumgardner)

Instructors from the Air Force’s Special Warfare Training Wing act as safety spotters during a demonstration following a ceremony dedicating the Maltz Special Warfare Aquatic Training Center, located on Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex, April 2, 2024. Dedicated in honor of Master Sgt. Michael Maltz, a former U.S. Air Force Pararescue Indoctrination Course instructor at Lackland AFB, this state-of-the-art facility - the first of its kind for the Army Corps of Engineers - was authorized in fiscal year 2020 and awarded as a design-bid-build project on June 25, 2021. (US Army photo by Richard Bumgardner)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District park rangers pose for a photo with Lt. Col. Joshua Haynes, far right, Fort Worth District Deputy Commander and Tim MacAllister, far left, Fort Worth District Operations Division Chief. Park rangers, lake managers and operations staff from the Fort Worth District came together at the Hopkins County Civic Center to recognize the year’s outstanding park rangers as well as teach and refresh them on proper responses and procedures for a variety of situations they are faced with in their day-to-day. (U.S. Army photo by Pat Adelmann)

As a project engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vanessa Pellegrino-Badell is proud of her involvement to provide a safe training environment for future Air Force trainees. (US Army photo by Brittany Scruggs)

Jonah Wall (12) and Cordel Moore (16) prepare for an afternoon session special hunt held at Wolf Creek Park on the shores of Navarro Mills Lake. Hunt chaperones Curtis Wall and Jeremy Clary are sitting in the back of the blind. The hunt is a collaboration between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Trail Life USA. For the full story, visit https://www.dvidshub.net/news/462291/special-kind-hunt

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Southwestern Division’s Fort Worth District Commander, Col. Calvin Kroeger, had the honor of representing the U.S. Army at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Dec. 23, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas. Kroeger helped administer the oath of enlistment to Army future soldiers during halftime, where recruits from all six branches took their oaths of enlistment. The game, between the Air Force Academy and James Madison University, was televised on national television with the Air Force Falcons taking the win, 31-21.

Retired nurses and former medical staff of Willford Hall, located at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, attend a community engagement event to receive a piece of history before final phases of demolition are complete, October 20, 2023.

2023 Fort Worth District, USACE, recruiting video. To watch the full video, visit https://dvidshub.net/r/rm3djv

Team members from the Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers debris planning and response team, and the logistics team are deployed to the Hawai‘i Wildfire Recovery Field Office in Kihei, Hawai‘i, and the Emergency Field office in Lahaina, Hawai‘i to assist with the wildfire disaster recovery mission on Maui. The Fort Worth team has made a positive difference throughout the mission and is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and values that embody the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Pictured left to right: Back row-Rob Giacomozzi, John Davis, Clayton Cockerham, Brian Brandt, Matt Kennedy, Bryan Yarbrough; Middle row-Natasha Gray, Tami Mahaffey, Jun Robbins, Emily Seidel; Front row-Capt. Meagan Schroeder and Vandi Leheny.

Val Oppenheimer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' resident engineer with the South Texas Area Office, meets with the onsite construction company's safety representative and tours the project site of the Air Force Personnel Center's new B499 wing, located at Randolph AFB, part of Joint Base San Antonio, Sept. 25, 2023. Oppenheimer is the lead engineer for several Fort Worth District projects in the JBSA portfolio. (U.S. Army photo by Richard Bumgardner)

Shane Iverson, a volunteer with the Piney Woods Service Association (PWSA) and Andy Gray, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Fort Worth District volunteer, look on as U.S. Marine Corps veterans Brian Aft, left, and Aaron Brittain attempt to land an estimated 11-foot alligator during the PWSA annual alligator hunt on B.A. Steinhagen Lake. Unfortunately for the veterans, this alligator was the one that got away. PWSA has been hosting the hunt in cooperation with USACE and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department since 2012.

The Angelina River below the Sam Rayburn Hydroelectric Power Plant and dam before and after the turbines are engaged for production of electricity. The Sam Rayburn Hydroelectric Power Plant was commissioned in September 1965. Even after a period of 58 years of operations, it still meets the electrical demands of Southeast Texas communities and regional area daily.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Collin County Sheriff's Office, Wylie Fire-Rescue, Lucas Fire-Rescue and Princeton Fire Department to create a water safety PSA. To view the video visit https://www.dvidshub.net/video/895723/water-safety-psa.

Val Oppenheimer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' resident engineer with the South Texas Area Office, meets with the onsite construction company's safety representative and tours the project site of the Air Force Personnel Center's new B499 wing, located at Randolph AFB, part of Joint Base San Antonio, Sept. 25, 2023. Oppenheimer is the lead engineer for several Fort Worth District projects in the JBSA portfolio. (U.S. Army photo by Richard Bumgardner)

U.S. Army Colonel Calvin A. Kroeger assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, during an Assumption of Command ceremony, Aug. 3, 2023, at the Fort Worth Club. Kroeger took command from Maj. Joshua Haynes, who led the district since June 2023. Haynes will return to his assignment as the deputy commander of the Fort Worth District. As commander of the district, Kroeger will manage one of the Corps’ largest military construction programs, which encompasses all design and construction on Army and Air Force installations in Texas and parts of Louisiana. He will also supervise the operation and maintenance of the district’s 25 lakes, which furnish approximately 30 percent of the state’s surface water supply and provide outdoor recreation opportunities for millions of visitors annually. The Assumption of Command is a time-honored military tradition which formally reaffirms the authority of command. It is a transfer of the total responsibility, authority, and accountability from one individual to another. The transfer is symbolized by the passing of the organizational flag, an icon which embodies the history of the unit or organization.

Fort Worth District deputy for Small Business Programs, Ali Marshall addresses a group of small business representatives on potential business opportunities during a January small business roadshow at Dyess Air Force Base, near Abiline, Texas.