Superstorm Sandy Response

In terms of accomplishments, probably the most newsworthy to most Americans is our efforts in support of a whole-of-government approach to Superstorm Sandy [2011]. The Superstorm Sandy recovery effort is a great example of the work we’ve done to reduce disaster risk – one of the four key pillars of our strategy. USACE has executed $1.5 billion of more than $5 billion in construction intended to reduce flood risk in areas affected by Superstorm Sandy. This construction will reduce economic costs and risks associated with large-scale floods and storms by supporting the long-term sustainability of the coastal ecosystem and communities. The Sandy recovery work is progressing on schedule.

Furthermore, the Corps completed the “North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study” in January 2015. The report identifies regional and national opportunities to increase coastal resilience and reduce vulnerability to high-risk areas. This report is a noteworthy example of what can happen when our government and partners come together to develop a methodology to assist communities increase their resilience. Ultimately, the report was a seminal document representing forward movement in the direction of the new paradigm that accounts for new and changing conditions. It has become a model for future similar efforts.

 

Supporting National Security (Support to the Warfighter)

While we are often recognized by many Americans for our work in military construction, risk reduction, and assistance in disaster recovery operations, we also have significant global commitments that support our Army service component commands and combatant commands in overseas locations. The Corps has operations in more than 100 countries, providing agile, expeditionary engineering and construction capabilities. We support readiness and modernization for Soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines by delivering facilities and infrastructure worldwide, as well as a variety of projects and programs for our installations. Finally, we conduct environmental restoration projects for former military sites and at superfund sites. We are the nation’s environmental engineer, creating engineering solutions for the nation’s environmental challenges. USACE has one of the largest environment restoration and environmental sustainability roles in the federal government.

Our Engineering Research and Development Center, known as ERDC, has worked tirelessly to support the warfighter by pushing new technology to the field. For example, in FY 2015, ERDC researchers worked with the U.S. Army National Ground Intelligence Center to develop methodologies to help identify weapons systems used in attacks on U.S. and allied forces. Accurate estimates of the weapons and explosives being employed are of critical importance, both in terms of identifying the exact nature of the threat and designing protection schemes. This is just one example of many that demonstrate our support of American national security interests.

 

Interagency Partnerships

Everything we do, whether it’s military missions or civil works, is a part of a collaborative effort in support of national interests. USACE is working with our joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational partners in more than 100 countries to deliver innovative, holistic, and sustainable solutions to combatant commanders that achieve global and theater objectives and end states. Interagency activities in support of our domestic stakeholders totaled $657 million in expenditures in FY 15, an increase of $278 million from FY 14. Some key domestic stakeholders in terms of overall program execution include the Environmental Protection Agency [$183 million], the Department of Veterans Affairs [$78 million], Customs and Border Protection [$80 million], the Department of Energy [$42 million], FEMA [$20 million], and NASA [$13 million]. Overall, nearly 70 domestic stakeholders were supported.

That’s really a great question. I think perhaps the nature of our challenges may change slightly as we adapt to uncertainty and a changing environment, but I think the core pillars of our strategy remain the same – support national security, transform civil works, reduce disaster risks, and prepare for tomorrow.

We rely on the combined experience of interagency cooperation with partners such as the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] and the Department of Energy to ensure the highest-quality engineering and construction projects support the requirements of our Army and of our nation, domestically and abroad. In FY 15, an interagency agreement was signed with the VA that allows USACE to provide project management, construction management, engineering services, and other support to the VA. Along with our support to the VA on their National Cemetery and Veterans Integrated Service Network projects, we reached agreement with their construction and facilities management folks to act as their construction agent on 13 major medical facilities valued at approximately $5 billion dollars. The first such project is the Denver-Aurora Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado. The hospital is over 70 percent complete, and construction is expected to be finished in early 2018. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, is committed to working together to support the needs of America’s veterans.