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  • February

    USACE Commanding General and 54th U.S. Army Chief of Engineers Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite (left) officiated at the promotion ceremony of Brig. Gen. Mark C. Quander, (2nd from left) Feb. 14, 2020, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia. The extended Quander family is the only African American family to produce four general officers in the U.S. military. The other three general officers who encompass this history are: Gen. (ret.) Vincent K. Brooks (center), Maj. Gen. (ret.) Leo A. Brooks, Sr. (2nd from right), and Brig. Gen. (ret.) Leo A. Brooks, Jr. (right). The Brooks family remains the only African American family to have three general from the same immediate family, and is connected to the Quander family tree in several ways, with the primary link being through Naomi Lewis Brooks, the mother to Leo Jr. and Vincent Brooks.

    Engineer School Commandant’s promotion makes American History

    It was fitting that the promotion ceremony for newly promoted Brig. Gen. Mark C. Quander took place on Feb. 14, 2020, halfway through Black History Month. The extended Quander family is the only African American family to produce four general officers in the U.S. military. The other three general officers who encompass this history were also in attendance at the promotion ceremony: Gen. (ret.) Vincent K. Brooks, Maj. Gen. (ret.) Leo A. Brooks, Sr., and Brig. Gen. (ret.) Leo A. Brooks, Jr. The Brooks family remains the only African American family to have three general from the same immediate family, and is connected to the Quander family tree in several ways, with the primary link being through Naomi Lewis Brooks, the mother to Leo Jr. and Vincent Brooks.
  • Members from the Programs and Project Management Division caught up with Cpt. Elliott at the terminal to present her with a few mementos of her time in theater.

    The District bids farewell to a supercharging Soldier

    Soldiers make up a healthy portion of the USACE regiment, bringing discipline, leadership and devotion to the duty for which they are given the opportunity to engage in. The Afghanistan District was honored to share the same platform with a young Soldier with high caliber skills.
  • Black History Month 2020

    Celebrate the role black Americans played in our history

    February is Black History Month, a time to remember the struggles and celebrate the courageous men and women of African and Caribbean Island ancestry whose lives are woven into the fabric of our Nation’s history and its future.

  • January

    Daryl Puffinburger receives an award from TAD Commander Col. Christopher Beck during her graduation from the Division’s Leadership Development Program Tier 3.

    Two graduate from TAD’s Leadership Development Program Tier 3

    WINCHESTER, Va. — Pete DeMattei and Daryl Puffinburger are the two latest graduates of the Transatlantic Division’s Leadership Development Program (LDP) Tier 3.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2020

    TAD commander issues MLK Day message

    Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” Each year in January Americans answer his question by coming together on Dr. King’s birthday to serve their neighbors and communities. We celebrate the life of Dr. King and acknowledge his achievements as a citizen, a civil rights leader, and a tireless advocate of the American ideals of liberty, equality, and justice for all. But this commemoration is not just about remembering a man who had a great impact on our nation. It is a day to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy by engaging in community service.
  • Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, the 54th Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer, “coined” TAD Logistics Specialist Tim O'Dell.

    Semonite ‘coins’ TAD logistics specialist during visit

    WINCHESTER, Va. — Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, the 54th Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer, “coined” TAD Logistics Specialist Tim O'Dell for his outstanding support to the Division members here at the headquarters and at deployed locations across the Middle East and Central Asia.
  • Transatlantic Division Logistics Director Todd Hasbrouck

    Semonite, Houston visit TAD headquarters

    WINCHESTER, Va. — Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, the 54th Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and USACE Command Sergeant Major Bradley Houston, drove 70 miles through the winter mix that enveloped Northern Virginia to visit with the men and women of the Transatlantic Division here Jan. 7, 2020.

  • December

    Bio photo Alvin “Al” B. Lee Director, Program and Business Directorate Transatlantic Division

    TAD’s senior civilian earns Presidential Rank Award

    When President Donald Trump recognized 141 members of the Federal Government’s Senior Executive Service by presenting them with the annual Presidential Rank Award on Dec. 17, 2019, Alvin “Al” Lee, the Transatlantic Division’s Director of Programs and Business, was among the list of 30 recipients earning the “Distinguished Executives” award – one of only four Department of the Army members receiving the recognition. The Presidential Rank Award is the top award a civilian Federal employee can receive.
  • Lt. Col. Dan Hayden, Afghanistan District Deputy Commander presents the Global War on Terrorism Medal to Derland Ellison, who redeployed from the Afghanistan District, while Adam Walker, Deputy Construction Chief, Bagram Resident Office displays the NATO medal certificate Ellison was awarded.

    Deployments aren't permanent, but worthwhile

    Deploying is a choice for Civilians within the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, and sometimes the tour could last anywhere from 6 months to a year, and even less.
  • The Transatlantic Division (TAD) understands the important role small businesses play in our nation's economy. Although the Federal Government's Small Business Programs apply only for contracts within the United States, TAD encourages prime contractors to use qualifying U.S. and local national small businesses to the maximum extent practicable for our overseas projects. Visit the "Business With Us" section of our webpage for information on how your Small Business may be able to do business with us overseas.

    TAD promotes Small Business participation in overseas programs

    SAME's Federal Small Business Conference connects small businesses directly with Federal Government procurement decision makers, contracting officers, small business liaison officers, and leaders. The event brings together small businesses with large businesses that have teaming and sub-contracting opportunities in support of government work. The 2019 SBC, held Nov. 20-22, 2019, in Dallas Texas, gave members of the Transatlantic Division team an opportunity to provide information on the projects and programs TAD anticipates we will begin developing in 2020 throughout the Middle East.

  • November

    Hardin enjoys time with his team members at a command function in Kabul.

    Afghanistan District is Thankful for its Volunteers

    Across the world families are gathering together to share memories and cherish some of the most simplest that life has to offer. Meanwhile there are Soldiers and Civilians who are far away from home, and making the most of this time of the season.

  • Commander's Thanksgiving message to the TAD team

    Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude that reminds us to take time to acknowledge all the blessings we enjoy as Americans. Too often we get caught up in the everyday pace of our lives and forget how fortunate we are for all we have.
  • The Department of Defense 2019 National American Indian Heritage Month poster depicts an auburn and brown background of varying shades. At the top of the poster is a medium-dark brown header. The names of the 573 Indian and Alaskan federally recognized tribes maintained by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior fills the entire background of the poster in dark brown text. These tribal names can be seen through all the lettering on the poster as well as the primary image at the center. Imposed on the medium-dark brown header is the observance theme “Honoring Our Nations, Building Strength through Understanding” in lighter auburn colored text. Immediately below the theme and on the auburn-brown background is the observance title spread across two lines. The first line in smaller capitalized block text reflects, NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN. Immediately below in larger font is the remainder of the title, HERITAGE MONTH.

    TAD honors American Indians and Alaskan Natives throughout November

    After 100 years of efforts to establish it, President George H. W. Bush designated November as National American Indian Heritage Month. What originally started as an effort to gain a single day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated to recognize native cultures and educate the public about the heritage, history, art, and traditions of American Indians and Alaskan Natives.
  • Pete Brown was selected as the USACE 2019 Financial Manager of the Year.

    ​Pete Brown selected as USACE 2019 Financial Manager of the Year

    WINCHESTER, Va. – Pete Brown was selected as the USACE 2019 Financial Manager of the Year, and was presented his award Oct. 5 at the Transatlantic Division headquarters here.

  • October

    Army Maj. Mark Lojewski (2nd from right) wears his newly presented Bronze de Fleury Medal. Lojewski received the medal from Army Lt. Col. Dan Hayden, USACE Afghanistan District deputy commander (right) during a ceremony on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, on Oct. 22, 2019. Also pictured are Afghanistan District Senior Enlisted Advisor Sergeant Maj. Anthony Powers (left) and Lojewski’s supervisor James Root, who nominated Lojewski for the award. The de Fleury Medal is one of the highest awards a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can receive and is presented to only a few Soldiers every year.

    Deployed Engineer awarded Bronze de Fleury Medal

    In an intimate ceremony on Bagram Airfield Oct. 22, 2019, Army Maj. Mark Lojewski received one of the highest awards a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) can receive – the Army Engineer Association's Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal. The de Fleury Medal is a symbol of leadership and devotion to the engineering career field presented by the U.S. Army Engineer Association, to only a few Soldiers every year. The Bronze de Fleury Medal may be presented to an individual who has rendered significant service or support to an element of the Engineer Regiment.
  • Logistics Management Specialist Jimmy Mapp orders supplies from Logistics Analyst Liz Johnson at a warehouse on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Mapp has worked for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for six years and started his Afghanistan deployment as a 90-day assignment. He is now on his 10th month in country and has been promoted to a new job working in Information Technology for the Afghanistan District as a Contracting Officer Representative.

    Civilian promotions still possible while deployed with Afghanistan District

    Civilian members of the USACE team volunteer to deploy to the Afghanistan District for a variety of reasons, with experience, increased pay, and being part of something special topping the list. But many people who are on the fence about stepping up to volunteer might be interested to know the possibility of a promotion also exists when deployed with USACE.
  • Logistics Specialist Tina Byrd at her desk on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Byrd was recently awarded the Department of the Army Civilian Service Achievement Medal both for her work supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel since arriving in Afghanistan in October 2018 and for going above and beyond the scope of her duties to establish an effective and sustainable requisitioning process for the district.

    Sleep comes easier now for deployed Afghanistan District team

    Although the noise from fighter jets and other aircraft continues throughout the night at Bagram Airfield, members of the Transatlantic Division’s Afghanistan District must still find a way to get a good night’s sleep. A restful slumber isn’t always easy to come by in a forward-deployed, austere environment, but because of the quick thinking of Logistics Specialist Tina Byrd, the Afghanistan District team now slumbers on new mattresses; more than 200 new mattresses to be exact.

  • September

    Executive level Power Governance team at the U. S. Embassy, Kabul, Afghanistan on September 21, 2019.

    Power Team successfully turns over final USFOR-A AIF Project

    On September 21, 2019 at the Power Governance meeting at the U. S. Embassy, Kabul Afghanistan, the Power Team successfully turned over the final USFOR-A Afghanistan Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Project Southern Electric Power System (SEPS) Sangin to Lashkar Gar to the Afghanistan Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW).
  • Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th by celebrating the contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Portugal, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

    Team TAD celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

    Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th by celebrating the contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Portugal, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Hispanics have had a profound and positive influence on our country through their strong commitment to family, faith, hard work, and service.
  • “Team Delta” students from Armel Elementary School in Frederick County, Virginia, begin construction of their popsicle stick bridge using only glue guns, their own designs, and 100 popsicle sticks. The kids were participating in STARBASE, a Defense Department program designed to motivate fifth graders to explore educational opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. Team Delta’s design set a new record for Winchester’s program, holding 62 pounds before it collapsed.

    From sticks to STEM – USACE and STARBASE work to build the future

    What do you get when you combine 14 glue guns, 700 popsicle sticks, 26 school kids and a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers colonel? Two hours of fun, learning and LOTS of laughter!