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Pacific Ocean Division News

  • January

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Far East District (FED) employees visit Sungyook Children’s Home, located in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, to deliver holiday gifts donated by FED employees, Dec. 16, 2025. The employees pose with the home’s managers in front of the building for the fifth consecutive year of FED's community outreach efforts for the facility. (U.S. Army photo by Monique Freemon)

    Far East District brings holiday joy to children at Sungyook Children’s Home for fifth year

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Far East District (FED) brought joy to the community by delivering gifts to 42 children at Sungyook Children’s Home in Pyeongtaek through its annual donation drive, Dec. 16. This year’s initiative marked the fifth consecutive year of holding the event for local children.

  • December

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) Yokota Resident Office team members, Rion Ogawa, an engineering technician (left), and Tatsuya Kokubu, a construction representative, sign a structural beam during a Topping Off ceremony on October 3rd, 2025. The structural beam was the last to be placed in the Yokota Air Base’s currently undergoing construction Corrosion Control Hangar. During the ceremony, special thanks were provided to the intercultural team members involved in the project, and how projects designed and constructed by JED often bring together individuals from a wide range of professional and international backgrounds. Courtesy photo provided by Gilbane Japan.

    Engineers enhance Pacific readiness

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) and Gilbane Japan GK construction agency marked a key milestone with a topping-out ceremony for the C-130J Corrosion Control Hangar (CCH) currently under construction.
  • Bach Nguyen, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) Navy, Marine Corps, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), and Environmental Branch Chief for the Programs and Project Management Division (PPMD), center at the podium, briefed a ballroom of Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) attendees eager to learn about JED's support for warfighters in the Indo-Pacific region during the SAME Japan Industry Forum at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Dec. 8-10, 2025. Highlights included upcoming projects such as a 100,000-barrel JP-8 fuel storage tank at Yokota Air Base, a corrosion control hangar at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, and a full mission flight simulator facility for the F-35 at Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture. Photo by Patrick Ciccarone.

    Advancing Partnerships: USACE JED Spotlights Project Growth at SAME Japan Event

    Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) attended the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Japan Industry Forum at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Dec. 8-10, 2025.
  • Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, former commander of the Pacific Palisades Emergency Field Office, visited debris removal sites in the Pacific Palisades on May 19. Palazzini served in his role as commander for nearly four months, providing critical leadership and engaging with the community in support of the debris removal mission. USACE photo by Melanie Peterson.

    USACE commander reflects on deployment to wildfire debris removal mission in southern California

    Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, commander of the USACE - Alaska District, served as the commander of the Pacific Palisades emergency field office, or EFO, for nearly four months in 2025. In this capacity, he served as a crucial leader and resource for other deployed personnel as they worked tirelessly to clear debris from the community, enabling residents and business owners to safely proceed in their recovery efforts.
  • Col. Ryan Ley, Commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Carl T. Vogel, Command Chief, 51st Fighter Wing, drive compact track loaders (CTLs) to clear the ribbon for a new Airfield Damage Repair warehouse, Osan Air Base, on Dec. 3, 2025.

    Compact Track Loaders cut the ribbon on Osan Air Base’s new Airfield Damage Repair warehouses

    Two compact track loaders (CTLs) cleared ribbons to mark the opening of a new Airfield Damage Repair (ADR) warehouse, Osan Air Base, South Korea, on Dec. 3, 2025. Driven by Col. Ryan Ley, Commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Carl T. Vogel, Command Chief, 51st Fighter Wing, the unique start to the ceremony highlighted the mission these facilities support of rapid airfield recovery in a contingency environment.
  • Col. Ryan Ley, Commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Carl T. Vogel, Command Chief, 51st Fighter Wing, drive compact track loaders (CTLs) to clear the ribbon for a new Airfield Damage Repair warehouse, Osan Air Base, on Dec. 3, 2025.

    Compact Track Loaders cut the ribbon on Osan Air Base’s new Airfield Damage Repair warehouses

    Two compact track loaders (CTLs) cleared ribbons to mark the opening of a new Airfield Damage Repair (ADR) warehouse, Osan Air Base, South Korea, on Dec. 3, 2025. Driven by Col. Ryan Ley, Commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Carl T. Vogel, Command Chief, 51st Fighter Wing, the unique start to the ceremony highlighted the mission these facilities support of rapid airfield recovery in a contingency environment.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Japan District (USACE JED) engineering division civil engineer, Joseph Dashiell, center, assists students from Naval Air Facility Atsugi’s Shirley Lanham Elementary School in building electrical circuits during their annual Science Technology Engineering Art and Mathematics (STEAM) Day event, December 3rd, 2025. As part of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) curriculum, Lanham’s STEAM Day introduces students to the dynamic world of STEAM through fast-paced, rotating classroom sessions led by guest instructors. Each session offers students a chance to see how science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics intersect in everyday life. Photo by Patrick Ciccarone.

    JED sparks curiosity during Atsugi STEAM Day

    Naval Air Facility Atsugi’s Shirley Lanham Elementary lit up, quite literally, as students experimented with building simple electrical circuits during their annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) Day event on December 3, 2025.

  • November

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) Commander, Col. Patrick Biggs, left, administers the oath of office to newly promoted Lt. Col. Simratpal “Simmer” Singh, JED’s deputy commander, during his promotion ceremony at the District’s headquarters on Camp Zama, Japan, Nov. 26th, 2025

    U.S. Army Major “Simmer” Singh Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

    Maj. Simratpal “Simmer” Singh, deputy commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District (JED), was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel during a ceremony on Nov. 26 at the District headquarters on Camp Zama.
  • Photos of Job Order Contract construction site.

    UPDATE: $1.6 Million USAG Humphreys Command Group Renovation Continues

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Far East District’s (USACE FED) Project 520595, is continuing the renovations of the first and third floors of Humphreys Command Group, the Plans, Analysis and Integration Office (PAIO) and the Internal Review and Audit Compliance Officer (IRACO).

  • September

    Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, district commander, joined Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham, commander of Alaska NORAD Region, Alaskan Command and Eleventh Air Force, and other distinguished guests to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Sep. 22. The center will be the first of its kind, enabling important joint and multinational force training. The $332 million project will construct a state-of-the-art, 150,000-square-foot, two-story building designed to withstand cold weather conditions. Areas include 11 simulator rooms, briefing rooms, mission operation centers, central server room, storage and more. The JITTC-E is designed to aid face-to-face mission planning, briefing, execution, supervision and debriefing at the highest tactical and operational levels of the Air Force.

    USACE breaks ground on Joint Integrated Test and Training Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

    Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, district commander, joined Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham, commander of Alaska NORAD Region, Alaskan Command and Eleventh Air Force, and other distinguished guests to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Sep. 22. The center will be the first of its kind, enabling important joint and multinational force training.

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