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  • February

    Modern cartographers for the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ Fort Worth District Real Estate Division have decades of maps stored in wooden cabinets. The maps show the different phases of projects including the district’s 25 lakes, military construction, as well as flood risk mitigation projects with local, county and state governments from throughout the district’s boundaries. Using the old two-dimensional maps along with current surveys allows the cartographers to produce new maps using modern software such as MicroStation and ArcGIS Pro that clearly depicts each and every project in a clearer, multi-dimensional view that was not available before.

    Mapping the District’s Future - Cartography

    In a utilitarian structure of reinforced concrete, a bastion of pragmatism near the Trinity River, there worked a group of government employees, cartographers not of lands, but of interventions. They are assets of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, and their charge is a solemn one: to translate USACE’s immense, earth-altering projects from the sterile domain of engineering schematics and hydrological models into the authoritative and comprehensible form of the map. Theirs is not an art of mere illustrations, but of sober visualization, a critical bridge between the raw power of engineering and the human landscapes it was designed to protect or create.

  • January

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    USACE, Air Force Celebrate Ribbon Cutting of Net Zero Facility at AFPC

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Air Force marked a milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new two-story net zero addition to the Air Force's Personnel Center, Dec. 4, 2025.

  • December

    In April 2025, the Fort Worth District joined Fort Bliss, Texas personnel and contractors for a groundbreaking for a much-needed railyard expansion. The expansion is essential for future deployment and redeployment operations at the installation. It will allow units to mobilize more swiftly in response to global conflicts and emergencies. The project includes a substantial expansion of the existing railhead. Key upgrades include an extension and connection of existing dead-end tracks to the yard line, the addition of north rail access to Union Pacific track, and the construction of new loading spurs with concrete aprons.

    Building the Future: Military Construction Program in Texas

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has long been a cornerstone of military readiness, and nowhere is this more evident than in Texas. With its vast landscapes and strategic importance, the region hosts some of the nation’s largest military installations, each fortified by the Corps of Engineers’ expertise in infrastructure and innovation. From historic World War II expansions to cutting-edge sustainable projects, the Corps of Engineers’ work in Texas, led by the Fort Worth District, is a testament to engineering excellence, economic development, and community partnership.
  • mages from the retirement ceremony for Brigadier General Kenneth N. Reed, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, held at the Fort Worth District headquarters, Fort Worth, Texas, October 28, 2025. Brig. Gen. Reed retires after more than 38 years of service to the Army, and to the Nation. (U.S. Army photo by Richard Bumgardner, Fort Worth Public Affairs)

    Brig. Gen. Kenneth N. Reed retires after 38 years of service

    Brig. Gen. Kenneth N. Reed didn’t just build projects with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — he built teams, trust, and a legacy that spans generations and continents.
  • Senior driller, Chris Bean (left) and lead driller, Dallas Spencer ready their equipment for the next round of drilling.

    Under the Surface, Above the Standard: The Fort Worth District Drill Crew

    Before a single foundation is poured or a building takes shape, the ground beneath must be understood. That is where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Fort Worth District drill crew comes in. Their soil sampling is the invisible safeguard that prevents costly failures, dangerous collapses, and public mistrust - the kind of instability seen in the famously tilted Leaning Tower of Pisa.

  • November

    Col. Kroeger signs the beam used for the topping off ceremony

    Topping Off and Giving Back

    The air over the construction site was crisp, carrying the familiar scents of wet concrete, diesel, and fresh steel. For months after the groundbreaking for the Veterans Administration’s El Paso Health Care Center, the symphony of progress had been one of deep percussion—pile drivers hammering into the earth—and the grating whine of saws. But today, a crescendo of voices rose together to celebrate the next major accomplishment, the topping off ceremony.
  • Ricardo Martinez

    Ricardo Martinez: Celebrating 50 Years of Federal Service

    After five decades of dedicated service, Ricardo Martinez is retiring—and what a journey it’s been. From living in U.S. Army barracks to working in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ offices, his story is one of grit, patriotism, and unwavering commitment.

  • September

    Air boats heading out to plant bait for the 2025 B.A. Steinhagen Veterans Alligator Hunt, sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Fort Worth District, the Piney Woods Service Association, and Texas Parks and Wildlife, held at BA Steinhagen Lake, 12-14 Sept. 2025.

    Veterans Find Camaraderie and Gators on Fort Worth District’s Lake

    As the sun rose over the swampy brown waters of B.A. Steinhagen Lake on Sept. 13, four veterans and their support crews loaded boats in anticipation of a weekend filled with adrenaline, camaraderie and conservation. The 12th annual Veterans Alligator Hunt held Sept. 12–14, took place on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land in partnership with the Piney Woods Service Association and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

  • August

    Jennifer Plair, a civil engineering technician at Fort Worth District’s Somerville Lake, holds her two dogs. In May of 2025 she was inducted into the Somerville High School Hall of Honor.

    Teamwork and Mentorship in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    In the high-stakes world of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where infrastructure projects and disaster response demand precision and innovation, Jennifer Plair, a civil engineering technician at Fort Worth District’s Somerville Lake, learned that individual expertise alone cannot guarantee success. A decorated long-distance runner, Plair discovered that true leadership lies in fostering teamwork and mentorship.

  • July

    Webb Family

    The Family That Powers On: Generations and Decades of Hydropower Dedication

    For over six decades, two generations of Webb men have harnessed the power of water—first with calloused hands and steel resolve, then with hydropower and a quiet, unyielding desire to serve their fellow man.
  • Capt. Nathan Myers shakes safety specialist Dale Beaty's hand while on deployment for the Southern California Wildfire Response mission.

    Safety First: Veteran Turns Passion into Purpose on USACE Missions

    For Dale Beaty, safety isn’t just a job — it’s a calling forged over three decades of service and sharpened in some of the world’s most demanding environments.
  • Keynote speaker, Annette Young, poses for a personal headshot.

    Leading with Passion, Mentoring for the Future

    With 35 years of federal service as her guide, Annette Young took center stage as keynote speaker during the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District’s Administrative Professionals Day celebration. Her message was clear and inspiring: Administrative professionals are the backbone of the organization, thriving through adaptability, collaboration and a belief in their own impact.

  • June

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Fort Worth District's acting commander, Lt. Col Joshua Haynes, welcomes the three-member team from the USACE Inspector General’s office during opening remarks. The IG team is visiting the district to inspect the district’s use of the Program and Project Management Information System, or P2. (US Army photo by Richard Bumgardner, SWF Public Affairs)

    Fort Worth District Earns a Best Practice During Inspector General P2 Inspection

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District recently welcomed a three-member team from the USACE Inspector General’s office for an inspection of the district’s use of the Program and Project Management Information System, or P2.
  • Department of Army intern Juan Gonzalez meets with Maj. Terence Ngoh, the officer-in-charge of the Military Contracting Branch at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Fort Worth District, May 28, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (US Army photo by Richard Bumgardner, SWF Public Affairs)

    Engineering the Future, One Fellow at a Time

    What began in the 1940s to meet the urgent demand for skilled personnel during World War II has grown into one of the federal government’s most successful workforce development initiatives. The Army Intern Program, now known as the Army Fellows Program, has evolved with the times, and remains a cornerstone of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Fort Worth District.
  • San Marcos ribbon cutting

    A Healthier and More Resilient San Marcos River

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District and city of San Marcos officials led a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Bicentennial Park on May 21, celebrating the completion of the San Marcos River Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project.

  • May

    “Lucky,” the horse sits atop a roof in Fort Worth during the historic flooding of the Clear Fork of the Trinity River in 1949. In the background is the former Montgomery Ward department store. The photo was taken by Hillis Miessner, a Fort Worth resident. Flooding like this in the 40s was the reason the Fort Worth District was created, and flood-risk mitigation remains a key role of the district today. With 25 dams and reservoirs, along with 373 miles of levees and bank protection, the district civil works projects have prevented an estimated $170 billion in damages since its inception.

    75 Years of Service to Fort Worth and Beyond

    From its humble beginnings in the wake of the devastating 1949 floods that inundated Fort Worth to the support of the recovery efforts after the Hawaii and Los Angeles wildfires, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District has successfully met every mission head-on.

  • April

    Unaccompanied enlisted personnel housing facility groundbreaking ceremony.

    USACE and Partners Break Ground on New Barracks at Fort Johnson

    Brig. Gen. Jason Curl, Commanding General of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Johnson, and Arnold “Rob” Newman, the Army Corps of Engineers’ Fort Worth District Deputy District Engineer, leaned onto their shovels March 13th to break ground with their teammates on the new unaccompanied enlisted personnel housing facility.

  • March

    Viet Nguyen deployed as the chief of information technology for USACE’s Task Force Restoring Iraqi Oil in 2003.

    Viet Nguyen Comes Full Circle

    Viet Nguyen, a program manager at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Fort Worth District, has managed critical programs and projects around the world, including during three deployments, as a Department of Army civilian, supporting Afghanistan District South, Task Force Restoring Iraqi Oil, and the Transatlantic Expeditionary District in Kuwait.
  • Two Army officers in camouflage uniforms shake hands with people clapping in the background.

    Army Corps of Engineers Raises the Roof at RRAD

    A ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the renovation and modernization of two tactical wheeled vehicle repair facilities was held at Red River Army Depot Jan. 30, 2025.

  • February

    Stanly “Easy” Frerich, in red, is recognized as the 2024 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Volunteer of the Year. Easy, who volunteers at Lake Georgetown, is the first volunteer from Fort Worth District in more than 10 years to be named the USACE volunteer of the year. In 2024 USACE had more than 37,900 volunteers across the command supporting natural resource management. In total, the volunteers served 1,751,141 hours, equivalent to 842 full-time employes. The total estimated value of volunteer hours is $58.6 million. Pictured from left to right are Scott Blank, lake manager at Lake Georgetown, Easy, Josh Houghtaling, a park ranger at Lake Georgetown, Madeline Karickhoff, a park ranger at Lake Georgetown, Col. Calvin Kroeger, Commander of the Fort Worth District.

    2024 USACE Volunteer of the Year

    Can you keep a secret? The lake staff at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District’s Lake Georgetown can, at least for two weeks. That’s how long they knew Stanley “Easy” Frerich had been selected as the 2024 USACE Volunteer of the Year. The trick was keeping it a secret until an appropriate ceremony could be planned.