In January 2025, devastating wildfires broke out in multiple regions of southern California, scorching landscapes and destroying homes across large swathes of land. In the wake of the vast destruction, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mobilized its debris removal mission in collaboration with local, state and federal partners. This critical mission required volunteer personnel from across the organization, calling upon employees of all specialties to contribute in support of the impacted communities.
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.
“Our mission in these communities was deeply impactful, and we spent many days working face-to-face with people who had lost everything,” he said. “Throughout the entirety of the deployment, the team and I were faced with challenges of many kinds.”
In total, USACE removed over 2.6 million tons of debris on 9,500 properties during the six-month effort. More than 1,400 people volunteered from across the organization, including 97 military service members such as Palazzini. The team completed the last private property debris removal work in early September, nearly four months ahead of USACE’s commitment to complete the mission before the first anniversary of the fires.
“This was the largest, quickest and safest wildfire response in USACE history,” he said. “It was a unique opportunity to have a rapid positive effect for a group of people that have lost so much and witness the life-changing results that our organization creates.”
Debris removal is a critical step in the recovery process after significant natural disasters. In floods, fires and other devastating events, rubble is left over, and can include destroyed infrastructure, vehicles, vegetation and more. All items and sites are unique, adding to the challenge for USACE crews who must safely and effectively clear waste of all types before property owners can rebuild.
"There were many different types of debris that our crews had to separate into different waste streams," Palazzini said. "Metal, concrete, ash and trees each carry specific procedures in the removal process to ensure they are recycled or disposed of correctly."
To effectively serve the impacted citizens, the USACE emergency presence in southern California consisted of two emergency field offices and one recovery field office, or RFO. While the EFOs conducted on-ground missions, the RFO stood as both an overseer and connection to leadership and partner agencies such as FEMA. This standardized command structure enables clear separation of responsibilities and communication between USACE and its stakeholders.
“Emergency and recovery field offices are structured similarly to the districts that make up the Corps of Engineers,” he said. “That structure creates some familiarity for our staff and enables commanders to provide the best leadership and top cover possible.”
Maj. Stephen Austria, deputy resident engineer at the Alaska District’s Denali Area Office, served on a temporary deployment as the officer-in-charge of the USACE community outreach team for the Pacific Palisades and Malibu recovery areas. During his 30-day deployment, he executed a wide variety of responsibilities and tasks that engaged directly with the community and ensured that residents were informed about USACE operations.
“I found my role on this deployment incredibly rewarding,” he said. “As the face of the Corps of Engineers to the community, my team and I worked face-to-face with people who had lost everything, which felt deeply impactful for each of us.”
Palazzini recommends deploying in support of the USACE emergency response mission to any USACE employee who wishes to broaden their experience and be immersed in a challenging environment. He cites the ability to make a positive difference as an especially rewarding aspect of temporarily serving in an emergency role.
“It’s not every day that you get to be a part of such a profoundly impactful project in a short time,” he said. “Participating in a temporary deployment in support of the USACE mission is a great experience for employees in many different professional fields.”
Palazzini departed his role as commander of the Pacific Palisades emergency field office with over 99 percent of all debris accounted for and removed to disposal sites. He credits close coordination with contractors and the USACE team in completing the work with great efficiency and professionalism.
"The mission was a massive undertaking, but our team was always up to the task over course of some very difficult days," he said. "I am deeply grateful to all the outstanding volunteers who committed their time to such a worthwhile cause and helped the people of southern California as they begin their recovery from these devastating fires."