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Pacific Ocean Division News

  • June

    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.

    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.
  • Contractor is renovating the entrance of USAG Humphreys Command Group; the Plans, Analysis and Integration Office (PAIO) and the Internal Review and Audit Compliance Officer (IRACO).

    $1.6 million renovations underway for USAG Humphreys Command Group

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Far East District’s (USACE FED) Project 520595, which is the renovations of the first and third floor to accommodate the USAG Humphreys Command Group, the Plans, Analysis and Integration Office (PAIO) and the Internal Review and Audit Compliance Officer (IRACO) is currently under construction on Camp Humphreys, South Korea.
  • Staff Sgt. Kyler Hughes, Construction Control Representative, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Far East District, guides students in creating "Ocean in a Bottle" during a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) event hosted by USACE at West Elementary School on Camp Humphreys, South Korea, on May 22, 2025. Highlighting the vital role of STEAM in our everyday lives, Hughes sparks excitement for science and engineering in young minds. (U.S. Army photo by Yohan An)

    USACE Far East District inspires future innovators at STEAM events in South Korea

    USAG HUMPHREYS, South Korea – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Far East District (FED) successfully hosted its 13th consecutive year of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) events at Humphreys Central Elementary School (HCES) and Humphreys West Elementary School (HWES) on May 15 and 22, 2025. The events aimed to ignite curiosity, foster creativity and inspire students to explore careers in STEAM fields through hands-on learning experiences.

  • May

    Content in this issue includes ongoing projects and initiatives from across the Army environmental community that are leveraging environmental stewardship as a force multiplier — enhancing military readiness, strengthening strategic partnerships and supporting community well-being.

    The Corps Environment – Spring 2025 edition now available

    The Spring 2025 edition of The Corps Environment is now available! This publication highlights how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is turning environmental challenges into mission-ready solutions. Content in this issue includes ongoing projects and initiatives from across the Army environmental community that are leveraging environmental stewardship as a force multiplier — enhancing military readiness, strengthening strategic partnerships and supporting community well-being.
  • An Okinawa Engineer District employee demonstrates the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers electrical capabilities to to Mr. Nagamine, Vice President, Ryukyu Electric Power Corporation and personnel from the government of the Ryukyu Islands (1968).

    Rebuilding a Region: The Corps’ Strategic Shift in Japan (1957–1972)

    The world was changing fast in 1957. The Cold War was heating up, American forces were becoming more entrenched in Asia, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers faced a new era of complexity. That year marked the formal creation of the Pacific Ocean Division (POD), a shift that would redefine how U.S. military construction was organized in Japan and
  • Engineers walk down the street in Post-War Okinawa, Japan

    From Ashes to Foundations: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Postwar Japan (1945–1957)

    In the smoldering wake of World War II, few places bore the scars of conflict like Japan. Cities lay in ruins, infrastructure crumbled, and entire populations were left homeless. Into this devastation came a wave of soldiers, engineers, and planners… among them, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.Their mission? To rebuild a nation. But first, they
  • 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.
  • Col. Patrick Biggs, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan District (USACE JED) explains the fundamentals of engineers to a group of John O. Arnn Elementary School students during their annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) Day event, April 23, 2025. As part of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) curriculum, Arnn’s STEAM Day is a fast-paced event where students are introduced to the dynamic world of STEAM.

    Full STEAM ahead at Arnn Elementary

    It was a day of hands-on learning, as Col. Patrick Biggs, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan District (USACE JED), visited John O. Arnn Elementary School to participate in their annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) Day event.Joining him was JED’s Yokota Resident Office Project Engineer, Capt.

  • April

    a Soldier is seen repelling down a cliff.

    What is a Sapper? 250 Years of “Badass” Engineers

    In the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the term sapper carries weight. For 250 years, sappers have served as elite combat engineers, supporting frontline infantry in every war throughout American history.
  • United States and Bangladesh officials celebrated the handover of the Khonjonighona Government Primary School and Multipurpose Disaster Shelter in eastern Bangladesh in October 2024. The school is constructed with the classrooms on the second and third floors to provide a safe area for the community during a flooding emergency.

    14-year multipurpose disaster shelter program reaches completion in Bangladesh

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District recently completed a robust construction effort aimed at reducing the threat of coastal storms to communities in eastern Bangladesh. Multipurpose Disaster Shelters, or MPDSs, are tailor-made for the volatile conditions of cyclone season. During periods of normal weather, these structures serve functions such as schools and clinics. When the annual storms bring severe flooding, the shelters are built to stand above the flooding and provide secure, elevated spaces for the community.

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