Pacific Ocean Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Goetz Highlights Strategy and Investments at SAME Indo-Pacific Summit 2025

Brig. Gen. Joseph “Clete” Goetz II, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pacific Ocean Division, responds to a question following the panel “View From the Top: Indo-Pacific Theater Execution” at the Society of American Military Engineers Indo-Pacific Summit in Honolulu, Sept. 9, 2025. The summit brought together senior leaders to discuss regional security, military construction and infrastructure resilience across the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Credit: Nahaku McFadden)

Goetz Highlights Strategy and Investments at SAME Indo-Pacific Summit 2025

Pacific Ocean Division Deputy Commander Col. Chris Crary and Programs Director Peter Ridilla join military leaders, government officials and industry partners at the Society of American Military Engineers Indo-Pacific Summit in Honolulu, Sept. 9, 2025. The event focused on regional security and infrastructure development. (Photo Credit: Nahaku McFadden)

Smart Rivers 2025 Conference

Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers joined global experts, government officials, and industry leaders at the Smart Rivers 2025 Conference in Memphis to share innovations and strengthen collaboration on inland waterways. MG Kelly, MG Peeples, and Mr. Jose Sanchez represented USACE, engaging with international partners including the Mekong River Commission to explore future cooperation. These partnerships directly support U.S. Army Pacific and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command priorities by advancing resilience, sustainability, and regional security across the Indo-Pacific. By working together, we ensure waterways remain safe, reliable, and vital for communities at home and with our allies abroad.

Smart Rivers 2025 Conference

Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers joined global experts, government officials, and industry leaders at the Smart Rivers 2025 Conference in Memphis to share innovations and strengthen collaboration on inland waterways. MG Kelly, MG Peeples, and Mr. Jose Sanchez represented USACE, engaging with international partners including the Mekong River Commission to explore future cooperation. These partnerships directly support U.S. Army Pacific and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command priorities by advancing resilience, sustainability, and regional security across the Indo-Pacific. By working together, we ensure waterways remain safe, reliable, and vital for communities at home and with our allies abroad.

USACE celebrates completion of Dutch Harbor Channels Project

Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, district commander, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Dutch Harbor Channels Project in the community of Unalaska on Sep. 2. He joined Vincent Tutiakoff, mayor of Unalaska, Bil Homka, city manager, and members of the City Council to celebrate the critical milestone at the harbor.

Command Sgt. Maj. Zachary Plummer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Pacific Ocean Division assists the street team of the City and Borough of Juneau to repair a temporary flood protection barrier along the Mendenhall River

Command Sgt. Maj. Zachary Plummer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Pacific Ocean Division assists the street team of the City and Borough of Juneau to repair a temporary flood protection barrier along the Mendenhall River after a tree strike at Diamond Park. USACE provided critical support to the community of Juneau by providing temporary barriers to protect infrastructure and human safety before the annual glacial lake outburst flood from Mendenhall Glacier. (Photo by Nahaku Mcfadden, USACE – Pacific Ocean Division)

Alaska District staff gather data after flood event in Mendenhall Valley

The Alaska District’s Olivia Jobin, hydraulic engineer and levee safety program manager, Mike Records, civil engineer, James Sauceda, chief of the Engineering Division, and Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, commander of the Alaska District, discuss the team’s data gathering work along the Mendenhall River on Aug. 14. Information taken from this year’s flood event will inform a technical study at the site for a potential long-term project. (Photo by Nahaku McFadden, USACE – Pacific Ocean Division)

USACE Team Tours Renovation of Historic Army Theatre

Moving the Maui wildfire debris from the temporary disposal site to the permanent site.

August 8, 2025 is the 2nd Anniversary of the Maui Wildfires

BG Goetz and Alaska District team visits runway construction at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

Pacific Ocean Division Welcomes Command Sgt. Maj. Zachary R. Plummer

Command Sgt. Maj. Zachary R. Plummer assumed responsibility as the new Pacific Ocean Division (POD) Command Sergeant Major at a June 25 ceremony at Ft. Shafter, Hawaii.

Ridilla inducted into Senior Executive Service

Mr. Peter A. Ridilla, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pacific Ocean Division (USACE POD) programs director, was recognized during his Senior Executive Service (SES) induction ceremony on the U.S.S. Missouri, Honolulu, Hawaii on May 8, 2025.

Ridilla inducted into Senior Executive Service

Mr. Peter A. Ridilla, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pacific Ocean Division (USACE POD) programs director, was recognized during his Senior Executive Service (SES) induction ceremony on the U.S.S. Missouri, Honolulu, Hawaii on May 8, 2025.

USACE, K-water renew Memorandum of Understanding to continue exchanges between the two agencies

Brig. Gen. Joseph “Clete” Goetz II, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Pacific Ocean Division, and Ms. Gu, Ja Young, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic Planning Officer, K-water, sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two agencies in Daejeon, South Korea, on April 16, 2025. The new agreement, signed almost ten years to the day from its predecessor, will allow for collaborative activities in the area of water resource management. (US Army photo by Rachel Napolitan)

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two agencies in Daejeon, South Korea, on April 16, 2025.

K-Water Memorandum of Understanding

Brig. Gen. Joseph “Clete” Goetz II, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Pacific Ocean Division, and Ms. Gu, Ja Young, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic Planning Officer, K-water, sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two agencies in Daejeon, South Korea, on April 16, 2025. The new agreement, signed almost ten years to the day from its predecessor, will allow for collaborative activities in the area of water resource management. (US Army photo by Rachel Napolitan)

Members of a U.S. military Joint Engineer Response team assess damage and structural integrity after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake affected Thailand and its neighbor countries on March 28, 2025.

Joint Engineer Response team assess damage after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake

THAILAND (March 28, 2025) — Members of a U.S. military Joint Engineer Response team assess damage and structural integrity after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake affected Thailand and its neighbor countries on March 28, 2025. U.S. military engineers continue to work alongside Thai military counterparts and first responders in conducting complex search and rescue operations and emergency excavation to locate survivors. The Joint Engineer Response Team consists of personnel from the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who have expertise in structural security, providing risk mitigation for personnel extraction teams to search for survivors. These assets are invaluable to humanitarian aid and disaster response operations. Servicemembers arrived in Thailand between the 28th and 30th of March to deliver critical aid and support to our Thailand partners in the Indo-Pacific.

Joint Engineer Response team assess damage after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake

Members of a U.S. military Joint Engineer Response team and Thai counterparts assess damage and structural integrity after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake affected Thailand and its neighbor countries on March 28, 2025. U.S. military engineers, who have expertise in structural security, worked alongside Thai military counterparts and first responders in conducting complex search and rescue operations and emergency excavation to locate survivors. The Joint Engineer Response Team providing disaster response consisted of experts from the U.S. Navy, the Marine Corps, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Servicemembers arrived in Thailand between the 28th and 30th of March to deliver critical aid and support to Thai Allies in the Indo-Pacific and began to retrograde on April 4. (Courtesy Photo)

Joint Engineer Response team assess damage after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake

THAILAND (March 28, 2025) — Members of a U.S. military Joint Engineer Response team assess damage and structural integrity after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake affected Thailand and its neighbor countries on March 28, 2025. U.S. military engineers continue to work alongside Thai military counterparts and first responders in conducting complex search and rescue operations and emergency excavation to locate survivors. The Joint Engineer Response Team consists of personnel from the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who have expertise in structural security, providing risk mitigation for personnel extraction teams to search for survivors. These assets are invaluable to humanitarian aid and disaster response operations. Servicemembers arrived in Thailand between the 28th and 30th of March to deliver critical aid and support to our Thailand partners in the Indo-Pacific.

USACE participation in the Pacific Rim Geospatial Conference

Sarah Falzarano, Pacific Ocean Division, discussing her involvement in the geospatial profession on the “Geoholics” podcast.

Participants of the 12th Mekong-Mississippi Sister Rivers Partnership Exchange

Participants of the 12th Mekong-Mississippi Sister Rivers Partnership Exchange Talks pose at the Omohundro Water Treatment Plant Dec. 9, 2024, on the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee. The Mekong River Commission and Mississippi River Commission met to strengthen international collaboration for sustainable management of water resources. Topics included management of population water resource needs, navigation, hydropower, environmental planning, flood risk management, and natural based solutions. The Sister Rivers Partnership Exchange supports the Mekong-U.S. Partnership (MUSP). (USACE Photo by Leon Roberts)

Command Strategic Review

All of the Pacific Ocean Division's districts were in attendance at the Command Strategic Review.

Command Strategic Review

It's a packed house at the Command Strategic Review.

BG Goetz Visits POH

Mr. Pierce, acting director of programs U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pacific Ocean Division, Mr. Sanchez, director of regional business USACE POD, Army Lt. Col. Adrian Biggerstaff, commander, USACE Honolulu District, Army Brig. Gen. Joseph C. “Clete” Goetz, commanding general USACE POD, Ms. Jennifer Moore, deputy district engineer for programs and project management USACE Honolulu District, and Mr. Mike Salyer, chief of civil works, USACE Honolulu District stand on the sea wall by the Waikiki Beach Coastal Storm Risk Management project managed by the USACE, Honolulu District.

BG Goetz Visits POH

Mr. Mark Wagatsuma, contracting officer’s representative, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District, is all smiles after being coined by Army Brig. Gen. Joseph C. “Clete” Goetz, commanding general, USACE, Pacific Ocean Division for outstanding performance as the COR on the repair of buildings 2075 and 2076 on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Wagatsuma’s leadership and attention to detail achieved a high-quality product, with minimal cost-growth and zero-time-growth on the project.

BG Goetz Visits POH

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District team in charge of the Schofield Barracks Child Development Center project on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii proudly show off their high safety standards resulting in zero mishaps on the project.

BG Goetz Visits POH

Mike Salyer, chief of civil works and Mr. Khoa Truong, project manager U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District showcase the plans for the Hawaii Water Management project managed by the district in Kunia, Hawaii to Army Lt. Col. Adrian Biggerstaff, commander, USACE Honolulu District and Mr. Sanchez, director of regional business USACE Pacific Ocean Division.

BG Goetz Visits POH

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District team in charge of the renovation barracks important to the quality of life and retention of Soldiers stand with Army Brig. Gen. Joseph C. “Clete” Goetz, commanding general, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pacific Ocean Division.

Attendees pose for a photo on the steps of the new kindergarten

Attendees pose for a photo on the front steps of the new school after the ceremony. Special design considerations include heated floors, triple-pane windows, extensive natural lighting, backup solar power and an elevated ground floor to prevent the thawing of permafrost below the building. (Courtesy photo)