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  • June

    Middle East District fire protection engineers Dave Miller and Gregory Michaels, prepare for a foam extinguishing test at aircraft hangar at March Air Base. Both team members are part of the Fire Protection Technical Center of Expertise, housed at the Transatlantic Middle East District.

    USACE Fire Protection Expertise used worldwide

    The Transatlantic Middle East District has been home to the Aircraft Hangar Fire Protection Technical Center of Expertise (TCX) since 1989 when the District was known as the Middle East/Africa Project Office, after a USACE inquiry for assistance troubleshooting a fire protection system in a hangar in Shemya Island, Alaska, in the Aleutian Islands was successful.

  • April

    An acre of natural plant and animal habitat, created by Middle East District project manager David Worthington and his wife Julie Staggers ten years ago. Now thriving with countless species and varieties, they maintain the area for the wild.

    Life-long respect for nature leads to natural habitat in the middle of city

    More than 10 years ago, Dave Worthington’s corner of the world was about to be turned upside down when a developer had plans for the land that bordered the home he’d lived in with his wife Julie Staggers since 2003.

  • December

    The Middle East District’s Robert “Bob” Fox has been awarded the 2018 Defense Acquisition Workforce Individual Achievement, Flexibility in Contracting and Development Innovation Award for Facilities Engineering. Fox is shown here while on temporary duty to a project site in Kuwait.

    Bob Fox awarded Defense Acquisition Workforce Achievement Award

    The Middle East District’s Robert “Bob” Fox has been awarded the 2018 Defense Acquisition Workforce Individual Achievement, Flexibility in Contracting and Development Innovation Award for Facilities Engineering.
  • A team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Middle East District (MED) was recently named the “USACE Project Delivery Team (PDT) Of The Year for Merit” for their work in planning the execution of almost 1 billion dollars in foreign military sales construction for the nation of Qatar. The project, known as Shield 5, is one of the largest ever undertaken by the District and will cover the construction of several missile defense sites along with numerous support facilities spread across a wide geographic area

    District contract professionals vital to successful mission accomplishment

    A vital step in the process of bringing construction projects to reality is awarding contracts to private industry companies for the actual construction. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Middle East District will usually award and manage construction contracts through construction managers overseas at the project site and with project and contract managers at the headquarters in Winchester, Va. There have been exceptions when a foreign customer requests that the District award the contract and then turn it over to them to manage, but typically award and management go together.

  • October

    Mike Wilson, Contract Specialist with the Middle East District, spent 26 years as a logistician before completing a degree and switching to a career in Contracting.

    Career Switchers seek and thrive in new positions

    ‘Change’ is often considered a negative, something to be avoided at all costs. But several Middle East District team members not only disagree, but have enthusiastically sought change and conquered any challenges they met. Their reasons for wanting a change in job position, title and responsibilities varied widely, but all successfully hurdled the negative and are now reaping the benefits of having faced change and won.
  • Middle East District Visual Information Specialist, Shannon Hodges, previews photos she shot during the normal routine of her day.

    Visually enhancing products at Middle East District

    Visual Information Services for the Middle East District have been provided by Shannon Hodges since

  • June

    Intern Josh Dalton with High School Intern Program and Structural Engineer Nathan Fox following Dalton's end of semester bridge break test. Fox assists interns in exploring engineering disciplines and building their self-confidence.

    District intern program promotes STEM, builds confidence

    The Middle East District is committed to assisting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ initiatives in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through educational and outreach efforts. One of the Middle East District’s latest tools developed in accomplishing the STEM goals was appointing forward-thinking team member Structural Engineer Nathan Fox as the District’s High School Intern Program Coordinator.

  • May

    Local high school junior concludes his spring semester Gifted Independent Study Class at the Middle East District's Engineering Division, with a presentation on his project. He built a popsicle stick bridge and using available engineering analysis software, calculated the weight-bearing capacity before testing the bridge.

    District engineers mentor local high school student sparking interest in engineering

    The Middle East District (MED) Engineering Division staff mentored local high school student Josh Dalton throughout the spring semester of this school year. The Millbrook High School junior, spent every other afternoon at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers headquarters in Winchester. Through the Gifted Independent Study program, Dalton was afforded the opportunity to volunteer intern/shadow Army Corps of Engineers professionals here.

  • December

    USACE engineers with student intern at conclusion of his internship.

    USACE helps local student see engineering more clearly

    The Middle East District (TAM) Engineering Division has helped shed light on various aspects of

  • August

    Change of Command, 23 Aug. 2017, USACE MED

    Middle East District Changes Leadership

    Middle East District Change of Command Ceremony held Aug. 23, 2017.

  • February

    TAM Program Manager Ric Terrazas adds weight to the basket attached to his bridge submitted for National Engineers Week Competition.

    National Engineers Week celebrated with gusto

    National Engineers Week was celebrated at several levels by the Commander and work force of the Middle East District Feb. 24, with a presentation at STARBASE Academy Winchester for local fifth grade students and at the District Headquarters in Winchester for TAM team members.
  • WINCHESTER, Va. - Middle East District structural engineer Elizabeth Prusch beams after Brig. Gen. Robert Carlson added the final weight to her bridge, for a grand total of 60 pounds. The students determined she must have used magic to make it so strong.

    Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division supports STEM initiatives through STARBASE Academy Winchester

    Brig. Gen. Robert Carlson, Transatlantic Division commander, and Elizabeth Prusch, P.E., Middle East District structural engineer, shared engineering magic with a fourth grade class from the Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School, Feb. 10 at the STARBASE Academy in Winchester.

  • December

    WINCHESTER Va. - Students at the STARBASE Academy build a popsicle bridge.

    Middle East District engineers return to STARBASE Academy Winchester

    Local students from Frederick County’s Gainesboro Elementary School built bridges with two Middle East District engineers during a STEM presentation at STARBASE Academy at the Cherry-Beasley Readiness Center in Winchester.

  • November

    Middle East District employees, Jerry Henry and Qing Xu spoke to about 300 students at a career day held at James Woods High School in Winchester, Va.

    District professionals take part in James Wood High School Career Fair

    Two Middle East District professionals returned to James Wood High School today to speak to juniors and seniors headed to college. Jerry Henry graduated from James Wood and Qing Xu returned for the second year as a career day speaker.

  • July

    Student shadows District engineers, determines his future path

    The Middle East District and Frederick County Public Schools collaborated on shadowing sessions so a local student could explore engineering careers. The program fits perfectly with the USACE commitment of teaming with others to strengthen programs that inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
  • Employee Stephan Hake speaks with Will Heuser during the STEM shadowing experience

    STEM shadowing experience successful for all

    The recently completed shadowing experience was reportedly a success from all perspectives. Middle East District engineers and architects shared time with a local high school student in one-hour increments throughout February, March, April and May. Most of the engineers and architects who spent time with the student seemed to appreciate the experience.

  • April

    PMs Forward work very closely with customers to manage their planning, programming, and design requirements, helping to guide the customer and recommend solutions on program development. For Afghanistan’s AIF program, Pat Brierly is the PM Forward in Afghanistan for the AIF Program working this temporary high water bridge on the right and low water temporary crossing on left. The new bridge location is in the center.

    PMs Forward enhance customer service, efficiency

    Strong relationships have sustained the Middle East District’s stability and longevity in the Middle East region. The District now employs another method to further enhance those relationships by assigning project managers overseas, referred to as project managers or PMs Forward, with our field staffs and customers.

  • November

    Civil Engineer Qing Xu illustrates a point by drawing a city layout and roads that come into it with students at the James Wood High School Career Fair, Nov. 13.

    Back to the Community: District Represents Engineering at Local High School Career Fair

    According to the USACE STEM site, “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recognizes the critical role that STEM education plays in enabling the U.S. to remain economic and technological leaders of the global marketplace and enabling the Departments of Defense and Army to keep our Nation secure. We are committed to teaming with others to strengthen STEM-related programs that inspire current and future generations of young people to pursue careers in STEM fields.”

  • September

    One of the UDC training rooms where more than 12,000 people began their deployments. Since May 2005, the UDC has been the first stop for thousands of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Managed by and housed at the Middle East District headquarters in Winchester, Va., thousands of USACE civilians, Soldiers and contractors, along with thousands more from other federal agencies, have spent their first week away from their home stations at the UDC being trained and equipped for their new mission.

    USACE Deployment Center Closed as Part of Army-wide Consolidation

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deployment Center is officially closing its doors and ceasing operations. Since May 2005, the UDC has been the first stop for thousands of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Managed by and housed at the Middle East District headquarters in Winchester, Va., thousands of USACE civilians, Soldiers and contractors, along with thousands more from other federal agencies, have spent their first week away from their home stations at the UDC being trained and equipped for their new mission.

  • May

    Six members of the Qatar Emiri Corps of Engineers visited Winchester, Va., this week for discussions with Middle East District leadership. Topics focused on the District’s mission, products and services, and technical capabilities. The delegation is also touring Fort Lee, Va., and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., before heading back to Qatar.

    US-Qatar Corps of Engineers Discuss Partnership and Collaborative Assistance

    The Qatar Emiri Corps of Engineers plans to improve its organization and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in a good position to help.