US Army Corps of Engineers
Transatlantic Division Public Website Website

Home / Media / News Stories
Results:
Tag: Transatlantic Division TAD
Clear

  • June

    Pride month 2020 poster with rainbow LGBT flag vector background - paint style illustration. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights.

    Army embraces diversity and inclusion during Pride Month

    June is designated as LGBT Pride Month to commemorate the members of the LGBT community who are part of the legacy of our nation and our Army, and to recognize the contributions that the LGBT community has made to the defense of our country.
  • Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, the 54th Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (left), presents Sally Beck with the Meritorious Public Service Medal. The award was given to Sally for all the work she did supporting families across the Army – specifically the men and women assigned to the Transatlantic Division during the command of her spouse, Col. (P) Chris Beck (right). Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the award was presented while practicing social distancing.

    Becks both receive awards before departing the Transatlantic Division

    Transatlantic Division Commander Col. (P) Chris Beck and his wife Sally were both presented with awards prior to their departure from the Division during a ceremony June 16, 2020, at TAD’s Headquarters in Winchester, Virginia, held in conjunction with a formal ceremony where Beck relinquished command of TAD.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • September

    “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!

  • August

    Roof framing is underway on the Life Support Area at the Aviation Enhancement Project in Kandahar.

    USACE remains the "Go-To" solution for engineering challenges nationally

    The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to build critical infrastructure for the Afghan nation. As the peace talk’s loom, and the Transatlantic Afghanistan District maintains its course for success, it will continue using economical engineering solutions to build stability in the region, employing local labor, empowering them with the ability to see the fruits of their own labor.
  • ​E. Scott Lowdermilk (center), the Transatlantic Division Chief of Plans and Operations, receives the Army Engineer Association's Silver Order of the de Fleury Medal at his retirement ceremony from both the military and civilian service on Aug. 2, 2019, after a career that spanned 38 years. Presenting the award to Lowdermilk are Maj. Gen. Donald Jackson (left) and Maj. Gen. Robert Carlson (right).

    Lowdermilk retires after 38 years of military, civilian service

    Transatlantic Division employee E. Scott Lowdermilk retired from both federal civil service and the U.S. Army Reserves on Aug. 2, 2019, during a dual-retirement ceremony that took place on the campus of Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia, in front of a crowd of more than 250 of his colleagues, peers and friends. In addition to the event celebrating both a military and civilian retirement, it was unique in that two Army Major Generals hosted the event: Maj. Gen. Donald Jackson, Deputy Inspector General of the United States Army Inspector General Agency, oversaw Lowdermilk's civil service retirement and Maj. Gen. Robert Carlson, Senior Military Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, oversaw the military retirement.

  • July

    Army Reserve Col. Scott Lowdermilk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division Director of Plans and Operations (left) presents a gift to Sally Heuser, the wife of Army Reserve Col. Todd M. Heuser, who retired July 13, 2019, after a 30-year military career, during a ceremony held in Winchester, Virginia.

    Heuser retires from military service; heads to Army War College as a civilian

    Army Reserve Col. Todd M. Heuser was retired July 13, 2019, at the George Washington Hotel in downtown Winchester, Virginia, after a 30-year military career. And, in an unusual twist, he was also “farewelled” from his civilian position as the Transatlantic Division’s Chief of Plans as he departs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to attend the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Usually, military colonels attend the Army’s senior service school while still in uniform; however, it is open to members of the civil service ranks. Heuser will be a part of the Class of 2020, where he will earn a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies following 10-months of rigorous study at the college.

  • June

    Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, the 54th Chief of Engineers and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commanding General, passes the Transatlantic Division flag to incoming commander Col. Christopher G. Beck during a Change of Command ceremony held June 26, 2019 in Winchester, Va. The change of command is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority from one commanding officer to another.

    Beck takes command of Transatlantic Division

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division held a Change of Command ceremony June 26, 2019, at the Winchester National Guard Armory, as the division’s outgoing commander, Col. Mark C. Quander, relinquished his command to Col. Christopher G. Beck. The change of command – a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority from one commanding officer to another – was hosted by Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, the 54th Chief of Engineers and USACE Commanding General.
  • The men and women of the Mosul Dam Task Force stand on the top of the Mosul Dam spillway. The Mosul Dam Project was a 3-year partnership started in 2016 as a joint venture among the Iraq Ministry of Water Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Italian Company Trevi S.p.A. in an effort to stabilize and repair the dam, and update the infrastructure of the dam.The dam sits in a valley along the Tigris River approximately 30 miles outside Mosul City in Iraq. It is the largest dam in Iraq, and the fourth largest in the Middle East, and supplies water, hydropower, irrigation and flood control to the region.

    Mosul Dam Task Force celebrates mission completion

    When a heavy downpour the morning of June 15, 2019, dumped even more water into the 32 billion gallons already in the reservoir of Iraq’s Mosul Dam, it didn’t faze the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) staff, the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) employees, or the Italian Contractors working inside and on top of the dam, because they knew that despite record rainfalls this past Winter, Mosul Dam was standing strong. In fact, the rain was a welcomed addition to the day because it cooled down the entire valley a few hours prior to the arrival of several dignitaries, including U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Matthew H. Tueller, Iraq Minister of Water Resources Jamal Abbas al-Adili, and Italian Ambassador to Iraq Bruno Pasquino, who were travelling to Mosul Dam to formally recognize the conclusion of the largest drilling and grouting project currently in the world, and to celebrate the full return of the drilling and grouting operations back to the Iraqis.

  • May

    Middle East District Commander Col. Stephen Bales, Supervisor Carlos Ramos, Contract Specialist Andrea Greene, Program Manager Pete DeMattei, Supervisor Annie Cain and Transatlantic Division Commander Col. Mark C. Quander, pose for a group photo following the presentation of Civilian Service Commendation Medals to Greene and DeMattei, during a ceremony held at the TAD headquarters in Winchester, Va., on April 25, 2019.

    TAM employees receive 'impact awards' for work in Bahrain

    Transatlantic Middle East District employees Andrea Greene and Peter DeMattei were presented with the Army Civilian Service Commendation Medal during a surprise ceremony held at the TAD headquarters in Winchester, Va., on April 25, 2019. The Civilian Service Commendation Medal is the civilian equivalent of the Army Commendation Medal and is awarded for very specific levels of achievement by civilian employees.

  • April

    Kim Adkins poses for a selfie while hiking at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 2017.

    Go 'outside the cubicle' with new Current Ops Chief

    Emergency Management expert Kimberly Adkins is just finishing up her fourth week at the Transatlantic Division in Winchester, Va., so she says she's "still in learning mode" when it comes to her job and how TAD operates. Her primary responsibility is to maintain awareness of all current operations in the TAD area of responsibility and review, analyze and report on current events and activities that might affect or intersect with those operations.
  • His Excellency Mr. Mohamad bin Hasan Al-Obaidly, Assistant Undersecretary for Labor Affairs at the Qatari Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, spoke to a group of more than two thousand USACE contractors at a Shield 5 in Doha on Apr. 21, 2019. The event bolstered ongoing Qatar human rights initiatives, while also supporting the U.S. government's Combating Trafficking in Persons prevention measures. Remarks were delivered in both Arabic and Hindi to ensure workers received the information in their native languages, and all attendees received a "Workers' Rights" booklet printed in their language of choice. The event was attended by Mr. William Grant, the Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires of the United States in Qatar, who said the U.S. Government makes it a priority to protect human rights for our workers around the world. During his comments he said the U.S. Government is "impressed" by the continuing efforts undertaken by the Qataris to protect the human rights of guest workers in their country.

    USACE partners with Qatar to promote Human Rights

    His Excellency Mr. Mohamad bin Hasan Al-Obaidly, Assistant Undersecretary for Labor Affairs at the Qatari Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, spoke to a group of more than two thousand U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) contractors at a USACE build site in Doha, Qatar, on Apr. 21, 2019. The event bolstered ongoing Qatar human rights initiatives, while also supporting the U.S. government's Combating Trafficking in Persons prevention measures. Remarks were delivered in both Arabic and Hindi to ensure workers received the information in their native languages, and all attendees received a "Workers' Rights" booklet printed in their language of choice.
  • Capt. Joe Marut, Col. Jim Riely and Capt. Andrea Taylor stand at attention during a Change of Command Ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq, April 6, 2019. Marut relinquished command of the Task Force Essayons (TFE) Headquarters Detachment to Taylor. Riely, the TFE commander, presided over the ceremony.

    Task Fore Essayons Hq. Detachment changes command

    The Transatlantic Division’s Task Force Essayons (TFE) conducted a change of command for its Headquarters Detachment on April 6, 2019, at Camp Taji, Iraq. TFE Commander Col. Jim Riely presided over the ceremony where Capt. Joe Marut relinquished command to Capt. Andrea Taylor.
  • The USACE Transatlantic Division's new Chief of Safety and Occupational Health, Lorese Dudley, says her mission is to prevent accidental injury, loss of life, and loss of equipment, all which could impact the mission. Dudley considers safety as a cultural state 24/7 and not a reactive response only implemented during duty hours.

    Outside the Cubicle:

    The USACE Transatlantic Division's new Chief of Safety and Occupational Health, Lorese Dudley, says her mission is to prevent accidental injury, loss of life, and loss of equipment, all which could impact the mission. Dudley considers safety as a cultural state 24/7 and not a reactive response only implemented during duty hours.
  • Rachael Raposa, the Transatlantic Division's “2018 Employee of the Year" Award recipient, is TAD’s Regional Contracting Chief. She received her award during a ceremony held at the Transatlantic Division's Headquarters in Winchester, Va., on March 28, 2019.

    Contracting expert earns TAD ‘Employee of the Year’ award

    Rachael Raposa, the Transatlantic Division’s Regional Contracting Chief, received TAD’s “Employee of the Year Award” for 2018 by TAD Commander Col. Mark C. Quander during a ceremony at the TAD headquarters in Winchester, Va., March 28, 2019.

  • March

    Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division's Task Force Mosul Dam, headquartered in Iraq, pose in front of their building. The team was presented with an award for voting their organization a one of the "Best Places To Work" in the Federal Government.

    TAD HQ and forward deployed task forces rate their jobs as ‘Best places to work’

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division Headquarters and TAD’s Deployed Task Forces were voted “best places to work” across USACE for 2018. The designation came from an unusual source: The employees working in Winchester, Va., and those forward deployed across the Middle East. The BPTW score is calculated based on the percentage of positive responses to questions during the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, taken annually by Federal employees.
  • Members of the Transatlantic Division Command Team present a symbolic “horse” from employees to Joan Kibler on the occasion of her “re-retirement.” Kibler, an avid equine lover, retired March 19, 2019, after 40 years in public service. Pictured (left to right) are Col. Scott Lowdermilk, TAD Commander Col. Mark C. Quander, Kibler, and TAD Command Sergeant Major Randolph Delapena.

    After 40 years in public service, long-time TAD PAO departs (again)

    The Transatlantic Division bid a fond farewell to a long-time public servant and friend to the organization when Joan Kibler retired (again) on March 19, 2019, after 40 years in public service. Kibler was a “reemployed annuitant” – a former federal civil servant who came out of retirement to return to Federal service – supporting TAD’s Public Affairs office.

  • September

    Securing the gear and items before movement to Camp Black are from left; Emilija Kolevski, Chief of Engineering and Technical Services Division; Nathan Alford, Operations and Maintenance O&M) COR); Patrick Grey, Civil Engineer; Tyler Crumbley, Quality Assurance Manager; Julie Meyer, Contracting Specialist; and Penny Coulon, Lead O&M COR.

    Protecting the Force by holding quarterly drills

    A contingency environment means being well aware of your surroundings and the Afghanistan District knows this better than most.