DVIDS – News – Army Chief of Engineers visits USACE projects in the Southwest

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – US Army Corps of Engineers Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, visited the Corps’ Albuquerque District on January 24-25 to view project sites and meet with partners at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas.

Spellmon, the 55th Chief Engineer, met with Commanding General WSMR Brig. General Eric Little to discuss potential construction needs at the facility and how USACE could support those needs.

Following that meeting, Spellmon joined Albuquerque District staff for tours of various USACE projects at WSMR, including the Information Systems Facility, the Microgrid site, and a Special Weapons Assembly Facility.

“This gives me an opportunity to reconnect with some civil works projects I haven’t seen in a couple of years, but really focused on the military construction mission here at White Sands Missile Range that the Albuquerque District took over last year. Spellmon said.

As part of his visit, Spellmon was also led by Albuquerque District staff on a tour of major civil works projects in the El Paso area. The group visited a scenic overlook of the El Paso Flood Risk Management Project (Cebada Power Plant), the Memphis Dam, and the Keystone Dam.

Representatives from El Paso Water, a key association in the region, joined the tour of civil works projects and discussed each project and the largest systems in the area.

“Being able to see these projects on the ground and understand their importance to the people we serve is what allows me to make our case to the assistant secretary’s office or to the administration and members of Congress,” Spellmon said.

“That’s why it’s so great to have the opportunity to do things like meet with representatives from El Paso Water and talk about flood risk management, and meet stakeholders and the commander at White Sands Missile Range,” he said. “Then I can have that input from the source and take it forward and make my best case for the resources that we need.”

Spellmon also participated in a short town hall with a small group of Albuquerque District staff, where he discussed USACE’s skills and challenges, and recognized individuals by presenting coins.

“Our people, our people are fantastic. I think that’s what I take with me every time I visit a district, the talented people that we have in the Army Corps of Engineers,” he said. “At all levels, not just our engineers but also our public affairs specialists, our lawyers, our environmental people, we have incredible talent and we are blessed to have these people in our organization.”