By Honolulu District Public Affairs
FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii -- During 2014 highly motivated U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Honolulu District staff supported military construction at Hawaii Army posts with the District completing 16 projects including three unaccompanied enlisted personnel housing units – one each at Schofield Barracks, Helemano Military Reservation, and Tripler Army Medical Center - and the Warriors in Transition Barracks and Complex at Schofield.
Lt. Col. Christopher W. Crary became the 69th commander of the District.
The District continued vital work on the USARPAC Mission Command Facility (MCF) at Fort Shafter. The MCF will consolidate HQ USARPAC into one facility that will support Mission Command of Army or joint forces across the Asia-Pacific Area of Operations.
The District Ohana demonstrated an unwavering willingness to work as a TEAM to deliver projects and services, focused on quality and timeliness as well as providing community outreach to the local and state like MATHCOUNTS competitions, the twice-a-year University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Engineering Career Fair, the 2014 Earth Day and National Public Lands Day at Honolulu District’s Pacific Regional Visitor Center and participation in the annual Engineers Week.
Unique partnerships continued with our military Wounded Warriors and professional development within the Engineer Regiment. The District also continued partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies for the West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative, and signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in January with the government of American Samoa today to formalize a partnership for the Corps to sponsor STEM activities in American Samoa schools.
In February, several of the District’s Department of the Army (DA) interns showcased District capabilities by creating Corps of Engineers and Honolulu District photographic exhibits highlighting District’s missions for public display at Pearlridge Shopping Center as part of the 2014 Engineers Week.
In late May officials from Honolulu District, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC), and Sumo-Nan, Inc. opened a renovated barracks at TAMC during a blessing and maile lei untying ceremony.
During the approach of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Iselle in early August "mission-essential" personnel of the District’s Crisis Management Team, Crisis Action Team, Power Response Team, Damage Assessment Teams, EOC Support Team, and Harbors and Channels Team, to assist the U.S. Coast Guard, Hawaii State Civil Defense, FEMA, and other federal, state, and local agencies.
In early September, the Honorable Ms. Jo Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Pacific Ocean Division Commander Col. Jeff Milhorn, Honolulu District Commander Lt. Col. Christopher Crary, and other Corps team members attended the 32nd U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meetings on Maui.
Throughout the year Honolulu District developed working relationships with two Wounded Warrior units. In October the Warrior Transition Battalion at Schofield Barracks, TAMC, U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii, and the 25th ID held a Ribbon Cutting and Campus Dedication for the Corps of Engineers -built facilities.
The District completed a successful FY14 during which 569 contract actions were awarded totaling $315,114,308.00. In support of its Small Business Program, the Honolulu District awarded just over $167 million or 54.23% of its total FY14 new contract and task order dollars to small businesses. This exceeded the yearly U.S. Army Corps of Engineers small business contract award goal of 43.30%.
Throughout 2014, the District also consulted with government agencies in American Samoa, Kwajalein in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau about potential studies and projects in their respective areas. In mid-September, the American Samoa government conducted a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Corps of Engineers-built $5.4 million Leone Bridge.
District contract actions signify the Corps’ commitment to provide high-quality facilities to the armed forces and to protect and improve the lives of the people of Hawaii and the region.
Honolulu District is responsible for major military design and construction, civil works, international and interagency support, real estate services to the Army and Air Force, regulatory work, environmental services and emergency management.