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

Public Affairs Office
Published Feb. 26, 2015
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.

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.

WINCHESTER, Va. - Transatlantic Division Commander Brig. Gen. Robert Carlson high-fives one of the teams after testing their bridge.

WINCHESTER, Va. - Transatlantic Division Commander Brig. Gen. Robert Carlson high-fives one of the teams after testing their bridge.

WINCHESTER, Va. - The 4th grade members of STARBASE Team Echo eagerly begin construction of their bridge following their carefully drawn out plans.

WINCHESTER, Va. - The 4th grade members of STARBASE Team Echo eagerly begin construction of their bridge following their carefully drawn out plans.

WINCHESTER, Va. - Brig. Gen. Robert Carlson answers questions from the 4th grade class attending STARBASE Academy Winchester, Feb. 10, as STARBASE Director Susan Corrigan watches on.

WINCHESTER, Va. - Brig. Gen. Robert Carlson answers questions from the 4th grade class attending STARBASE Academy Winchester, Feb. 10, as STARBASE Director Susan Corrigan watches on.

WINCHESTER, Va. – 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.

STARBASE is a Department of Defense program, focused on elementary students, designed to motivate them to explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) as they continue their education. The academies serve students that are historically under-represented in STEM -- students who live in inner cities or rural locations, and are socio-economically disadvantaged, low in academic performance or have a disability are in the target group. These apply to all Frederick County, Virginia schools.

The academy in Winchester, housed at the Virginia National Guard Cherry-Beasley Readiness Center, hosts a different group of 28 students each week. The groups attend for a full school week, during which students are encouraged to set goals and achieve them. Guest speakers from STEM professions are scheduled for each session.

During initial introductions, the General discussed engineering in basic terms and asked thought-provoking questions. The students were eager to answer and share what they already knew.

The students’ questions for the General ranged from “Have you ever jumped out of an airplane?” to “Do you know the Army [phonetic] alphabet?” with several others in between. The students were engaged and anxious to hear what the General said.

The next phase was the slide show. Prusch presented a series of slides designed to explain engineering and its many disciplines. She talked about famous engineers and even more famous engineering feats. She quizzed the students about the tallest building in the world (the Burj Kalifah in Dubai, UAE, at a height of 2,722 feet), the tallest building in the United States (One World Trade Center in New York City, at a height of 1,776 feet), and the highest bridge in the United States (Royal Gorge, Colorado, at 1,053 feet).

The General evoked laughter from the students by commenting that you could parachute off of the building in the UAE and again by adding that you

could bungee jump from the Royal Gorge Bridge.

The students were anxious to move on to the hands-on portion of their morning.

The assignment: Build a weight-bearing bridge.

The five teams of three or four students were given graph paper, 100 popsicle sticks and two low-heat glue guns. They needed to work as a team, as is typically the case with engineers, agree on their plan and start the construction. There was a one hour time limit.

Sticks were stacked and glue flew everywhere.

Sixty minutes later, one group abruptly discovered they’d run out of materials with only two-thirds of their design executed. Another team had two sides, a bottom and top but they weren’t assembled.

But time was up and the next step was individual weight tests.

The bridges were set up on reams of paper with a 12-inch divide. The General added weights to the top of the bridges. He kept the students engaged by polling about what the students thought would happen with each added weight. He also called for a drum roll before each weight was added. Student (and teacher) enthusiasm was high.

The first two bridges collapsed with only 2.5 pounds of weight on them; one easily held 2.5 pounds but broke apart when more weight was added; another bridge held 5 pounds, and the class winner successfully held 7.5 pounds.            

When it was time to test the bridge built by Prusch, the laughter and drum rolls got louder and louder. Her bridge never failed, even though Carlson had added 60 pounds of weight to the top.

“Why do you think Miss Elizabeth’s bridge is so strong?” asked the General. “What makes her bridge different from yours?”

“Magic?” replied one student, to which several students agreed must be the answer.

“It looks like magic,” Carlson answered, “but it’s really just great engineering. Miss Elizabeth is very good at her job.”

“This is what I do,” Prusch said. “As an engineer, I get to build things all the time.”

The student’s teacher, Scott Bucey, said this was the second time he’s brought a class to STARBASE. “Two years ago, I was here but then last year, we weren’t selected to come. I was really bummed for those kids.

“This STARBASE experience is great,” Bucey said. “It goes way beyond what we can offer at the school where they have a science class for only 30-minutes at a time. Here, the students get to do all these neat experiments and play with all this high-tech equipment. They really enjoyed programming the robots. All this hands-on inspires them. The kids love it and it’s a great experience for them.”

As the event drew to a close, the General asked how many of the students thought they may want to be engineers when they grow up. This brought a sea of hands popped into the air, students yelling “me!” and “yes!” and ignited an excited discussion among the students.  

Engineering just may be magic after all.


The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division serves as USACE’s tip of the spear in one of the most dynamic construction environments in the world, STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS, BUILDING CAPACITY, and ENHANCING SECURITY for our nation, allies, and partners. 

We SAFELY deliver agile, responsive, and innovative, design, construction, engineering and contingency solutions in support of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command and other global partners to advance national security interests.

  • April

    US Army Corps of Engineers delivers readiness capabilities in US Central Command

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the force behind the force, delivering mission-critical infrastructure that sustains and strengthens military readiness in one of the most complex operational environments. Across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, the Army Corps of Engineers designs and constructs facilities that enable U.S. forces to operate, train, and sustain mission readiness. A Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facility, or TEMF, sets the standard for sustainment operations. A TEMF is a standardized facility designed to provide the U.S. Army with the necessary infrastructure to maintain, repair, and sustain its equipment.
  • March

    From Soldier to civilian: An Army engineer’s life-long dedication to those on the front lines

    Roger Vogler’s journey with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is one defined by dedication, experience, and a commitment to supporting Soldiers. Marking 40 years in federal service in February and celebrating 30 years as a licensed Professional Engineer, Vogler – a U.S. Army veteran – reflects on a career that has spanned both military and civilian service and made a lasting impact on the lives of warfighters on the front lines.
  • February

    How an Army Engineer is Making an Impact with USACE in CENTCOM

    In the ever-evolving operational landscape of the U.S. Central Command, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stands as a crucial force in strengthening infrastructure, enhancing security, and delivering the engineering support and services essential for sustained military and partner-nation success. For U.S. Army Sergeant Major Alan E. Thomas, Jr., a seasoned Army engineer and project manager currently serving with the Expeditionary District in Kuwait, the experience of working within USACE is proving to be a career defining experience.
  • USACE and Kuwait mission partners align on missile facility renovation

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers professionals recently joined Kuwaiti defense leaders and industry partners for a weeklong planning session focused on the renovation of the Kuwait Missile Assembly/Disassembly Facility. Held Jan.19-23, 2025, at the Al Hashemi Marine Museum in Kuwait City, the event brought together representatives from the USACE Kuwait Program Management Office, the U.S. Office of Military Cooperation – Kuwait, the Kuwait Air Defense, Kuwait Ministry of Defence Armament & Procurement Authority and Military Engineering Projects, and private industry partners. The goal of the session was to define the full scope of the renovation project and ensure alignment across all stakeholders, reinforcing Kuwait’s air defense capabilities and overall mission readiness.
  • USACE Breaks Ground on Warehouses for Kuwait’s legendary 35th Brigade

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers marked a major milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for a critical infrastructure project in Kuwait, Jan. 21. The $39.9 million initiative will deliver five multi-functional warehouses for Kuwait’s legendary 35th Armored Brigade, reinforcing USACE’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and building capacity for the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense.
  • Charting Success: Governance Week at USACE’s Tip of the Spear

    In the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, success is no accident—it’s the result of careful planning, insightful analysis, and decisive leadership. Sitting at the tip of the USACE spear in Kuwait, the Transatlantic Expeditionary District supports U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command, executing a $520 million dollar program that delivers critical infrastructure and engineering solutions across the region. Once a month, the district’s leaders, directors, and chiefs gathered District Governance Week, an essential event where collaboration meets strategy, and data drives decisions that shape the future.
  • USACE Engineer earns PE, strengthening the mission from the frontlines

    Balancing a high-tempo mission in the U.S. Central Command area of operations with the rigorous demands of professional certification, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Expeditionary District engineer Tanner Cowan pushed himself to new heights—earning his Professional Engineer license while actively supporting critical engineering, design, and construction efforts. His achievement not only marks a personal milestone but also enhances USACE’s ability to deliver engineering excellence in one of the world’s most complex operational environments.
  • November

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division attends opening of facility supporting Veterans

    Officers assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division attended the grand opening of Shenandoah University’s Hub for Innovators, Veterans and Entrepreneurs (HIVE) last month.
  • More than a ceremony: The weight of leadership for an Army CSM

    While a new commander’s arrival brings a Change of Command—a formal passing of authority—the role of command sergeant major, or CSM, carries a different weight. For the CSM, it isn’t about authority; it’s about responsibility. The Change of Responsibility ceremony is a testament to that unique and often unseen duty—a duty that runs through every layer of the U.S. Army, from the strategic missions to the day-to-day lives of Soldiers and civilians.
  • October

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division Personnel Support Hawaii Wildfires Recovery

    Several staff members assigned to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division were activated to support U.S. Army Corps of Engineers response to the Hawaii wildfires.