News Stories

Mobile District: 2025 Year Review

USACE
Published Jan. 5, 2026
Building under construction.

Construction progresses on Hangar 1 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City, Florida, Jan. 29, 2025. The hangar will be the new home of the F-35 Lightning II and a key project in rebuilding Tyndall following the near destruction of the base following Hurricane Michael in 2018. (U.S. Army photo by Chuck Walker

Man holding an Award and plaque

Alou Rice, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District environmental engineer, holds up his two trophies from the USACE and the Mobile District level at the Mobile District Headquarters Building, Mobile, Alabama, June 20, 2025. Rice won the 2025 Civil Engineer Professional of the Year Award as well as the Mobile District’s Engineer of the Year Award. (Courtesy photo)

Female Park Ranger standing by a sign.

Park Ranger Christine Dowell stands at the entrance of R. Shaefer Heard Campground, West Point Lake, December 4, 2025. Dowell is the campground coordinator for the project and is part of the team that helped earn the campground RV Life’s “Best of the Best” recognition for 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Travis England)

Picture of five people standing in front of a wall

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District, Planning and Environmental Division’s Chief, Bailey Crane (center), and branch chiefs pose for a team photo at the Mobile District Office, Mobile, Alabama, August 15, 2025. The Planning and Environmental Division is crucial to the District as it oversees all civil works projects in USACE. (U.S. Army photo by Chuck Walker)

Man speaking at podium.

New U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District Commander Col. Kelcey Shaw speaks during the Change of Command ceremony at the Mobile District Headquarters, Mobile, Alabama, July 18, 2025. Shaw assumed command from outgoing commander Col. Jeremy Chapman during a ceremony presided over by Brigadier Gen. Zachary Miller, South Atlantic Division commander. (U.S. Army photo by Chuck Walker)

Picture of several people doing a ribbon cutting.

Col. Jeremy Chapman, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District, cuts the ribbon during the official ceremony celebrating the grand opening of the District’s new headquarters building in downtown Mobile, June 30, 2025.

Two men standing on an airboat.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Technician Terry Diggers (left) and Park Ranger Brett Barton (right) conduct a field check from an airboat during aquatic vegetation monitoring, June 17, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The team is supporting USACE’s invasive species management effort targeting Giant Salvinia and Water Hyacinth on the Black Warrior and Tombigbee Lakes system. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Travis England)

A Picture of a family. Four Ladies and one Man.

Jason Krick, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District Chief of Engineering, poses with his family (from left to right) daughters Olivia and Claire, wife Laci, and daughters Sophie and Emma in Mobile, Alabama, October 15, 2024. Krick, who has been with the Mobile District for more than 25 years and won the USACE Civilian of the Year Award for 2025, said his family has supported him throughout his career. (Courtesy Photo)

A 3-d printer oyster reef

A 3-D printed oyster reef made from dredged sediment from the Mobile Bay sits on an Oyster Farm on Mon Louis Beach in Dauphin Island, Alabama, Nov. 19, 2025. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, in partnership with ERDC and the MBNEP, developed the project to use dredged sediment from the bay beneficially. (U.S. Army photo by Chuck Walker)

A Man and a young man sitting at a table talking.
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James Hathorn, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District Water Management chief, right, speaks with Colin Smith, Murphy High School student, about his future and his goals at the Mobile District Office, Mobile, Alabama, Sept. 22, 2025. Smith, a sophomore at Murphy, aspires to pursue a career in engineering upon graduating from high school. (U.S. Army photo by Chuck Walker)

MOBILE, Ala. –  Over the past year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, advanced a broad range of engineering, environmental, and community-partnered initiatives across the Gulf Coast. From landmark infrastructure accomplishments to expanded public engagement and readiness efforts, the District reaffirmed its mission to deliver vital engineering solutions that secure the nation, energize the economy, and reduce disaster risk.

Landmark completion of the Mobile Harbor channel deepening
A signature achievement for the year was the successful completion of the Mobile Harbor deepening and widening project. The initiative, completed in partnership between the Mobile District and the Alabama Port Authority, deepened the entrance channel to 50 feet and widened part of the Bay channel by 100 feet over three miles to accommodate two-way traffic and larger vessels.

The final dredging phase culminated in early October 2025, when the 50-foot depth was achieved—officially making the Port of Mobile the deepest container port in the U.S. Gulf. The milestone significantly enhances the region’s commerce and logistics capability, enabling larger ships, more efficient vessel movements, and strengthened competitiveness for Alabama and the Gulf Coast.

A key environmental component of the project was the beneficial use of dredged material for marsh restoration, shoreline protection, and thin-layer placement—demonstrating the District’s commitment to sustainable practices and ecosystem stewardship.

Headquarters move and renewed infrastructure presence
In June 2025, the District celebrated the ribbon-cutting of its new downtown Mobile headquarters. This modern facility houses more than 650 employees and has a capacity for 800. The 190,000-square-foot building represents a significant modernization of the District’s workspace, enhancing collaboration, accessibility, and efficiency while reaffirming the Corps’ long-term commitment to the City of Mobile and the Gulf Coast region.

Expanded community and stakeholder engagement
Throughout the year, the District hosted multiple public meetings and comment opportunities, including those tied to navigation channel projects, water-control operations in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Basin, and environmental review processes. These efforts ensured transparency, encouraged collaboration, and strengthened relationships with local governments and community partners.

Military, civil works, and resilience readiness
While major civil works projects captured headlines, the Mobile District also advanced numerous military construction and resilience initiatives. Ongoing work at Tyndall Air Force Base continued to redefine the “Base of the Future,” supporting long-term military readiness and recovery. Across its area of responsibility, the District delivered projects that improved flood risk management, navigation, and emergency response.

Environmental stewardship and material reuse
The Mobile Harbor project set a new benchmark for environmental responsibility, showcasing how dredged material can be used to restore marshes, stabilize shorelines, and rebuild coastal habitats. These efforts support the Corps’ nationwide goal of beneficially using at least 70 percent of dredged material by 2030, reinforcing the District’s leadership in sustainable engineering practices.

Looking ahead
With the harbor channel work complete, the District now looks to optimize cargo movement, expand restoration projects tied to the dredging program, advance flood-risk and water-resource initiatives, and strengthen partnerships across the Gulf Coast.

The achievements of this year, culminating with the completion of the Mobile Harbor deepening project, underscore the Mobile District’s continued commitment to engineering excellence, environmental stewardship, and service to the nation.

Additionally, the District celebrated the recognition of its Chief of Engineering, Mr. Jason Krick, who was honored as the USACE Employee of the Year for his exceptional leadership and innovative contributions to engineering solutions. Mr. Krick was instrumental in overseeing the Mobile Harbor project and other critical initiatives within the District.

Furthermore, R. Shaefer Heard Campground, managed by the Corps in Alabama, was named RV Life's "Best of the Best" for 2025. The campground earned this prestigious recognition for its outstanding amenities, well-maintained facilities, and customer service, making it one of the top destinations for RV travelers nationwide.

  • Mobile District Celebrates Grand Opening of New Headquarters
  • US Army Corps of Engineers Leadership Oversees Hazardous Materials Inspection
  • Carter’s Lake Landscapes
  • Shaw Assumes Command of Mobile District
  • Planning and Environmental Division Leads the Way for Mobile District
  • Park Ranger Supports Award-Winning Campground Operations at West Point Lake
  • USACE Mobile District Commander Visits Mobile County Emergency Management
  • USACE Personnel Conduct Field Check Amid Invasive Vegetation

These images capture the dedication and hard work of the Mobile District throughout the year.