The Corps of Engineers Caribbean District closed out our first full year as a new district with a record of progress, positive impacts, strengthened partnerships, and enhanced regional security cooperation across Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the wider Caribbean region.
Established to bring dedicated engineering capacity to the region, the
district reached full operational capability in 2025, standing up teams, systems, and mission support functions while simultaneously delivering a $10 billion portfolio of projects that strengthened communities and protected critical infrastructure.
The year began with Caribbean District personnel working to strengthen collaboration across military and civil missions. In February, the district briefed Congressional staff delegates from Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, and the U.S. Virgin Islands during a visit to Army installations in Puerto Rico. The Corps provided updates on expansion projects at Camp Santiago in Salinas, where new barracks and improved facilities are enhancing readiness by reducing setup and teardown times for training weekends and supporting long‑term Soldier needs across the region.
Later that month, the Caribbean District’s Regulatory Branch hosted its first Quarterly Interagency Meeting (IAM) in San Juan. The meeting brought together federal and state resource agencies to discuss permitting proposals and programmatic initiatives. Presenters included the mayors of Loíza and Canóvanas, the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust Fund, and Alvarez Díaz y Villalón, who shared updates on coastal erosion mitigation, community infrastructure improvements, and ecosystem restoration.
Throughout the spring, the district continued advancing major civil works efforts across Puerto Rico. The Río Puerto Nuevo Flood Risk Management Project, which is the district’s largest program on the island, achieved key construction milestones, including channel improvements, bridge work, and community engagement to reduce long‑standing flood risks in the San Juan metropolitan area.
As part of our commitment to transparency and environmental stewardship, the district prepared a supplemental NEPA document evaluating the potential use of the Bechara Industrial Zone for excavation material handling and placement. Public comments were invited to ensure community input remained central to the project’s development.
In June, the district and the Municipality of Arroyo formalized a Memorandum of Agreement under the Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program. The $882,000 study, cost‑shared equally, will evaluate sediment transport and develop strategies to mitigate shoaling at Paseo Las Américas (Malecón), protecting fishing operations, stormwater infrastructure, water quality, and ecosystem health.
Our public engagement intensified during the summer, with the district delivering a comprehensive update on the Río de La Plata Flood Risk Management Project in July at a community meeting in Toa Baja, attended by nearly 100 residents and officials. District Deputy Commander Maj. Ricardo Herrero highlighted the district’s mission and growing capacity, while residents engaged in a robust Q&A session on project features and long‑term maintenance.
Then in August, Project Manager Lynnette Alicea León briefed residents in Salinas on the Río Nigua Flood Risk Management Project. In September, the Caribbean District met with residents in Ciales to provide updates on the Río Grande de Manatí Project at the Teatro Municipal Adalberto Santiago.
The Caribbean District also expanded outreach in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In July, the district hosted a Federal Consistency Public Hearing for the Savan Gut Flood Risk Management Project in St. Thomas, providing residents and stakeholders with project details and an opportunity to offer input.
Two major flood risk reduction efforts also moved forward in the USVI: On St. Croix, the Corps and the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works held a design kickoff meeting for the Estate La Grange CAP 205 Flood Damage Reduction Project, and on St. Thomas, the district completed the 65‑percent design review for the Turpentine Run Flood Control Project, including site visits and technical discussions with local agencies.
Mid‑year, the Caribbean District advanced a groundbreaking sustainability initiative as part of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Avenue Bridge replacement project in San Juan. For the first time in Puerto Rico, responsible tree disposal and wood‑reuse requirements were incorporated directly into a federal construction contract. Wood removed from the project area is now transported to a local sawmill for repurposing, an approach District Commander Col. Charles Decker described as “laying the foundation for responsible wood management on the island.”
Supported by a $150.7 million federal investment, the bridge replacement includes a wider two‑span design, improved water flow, channel deepening, scour protection, and upgraded stormwater infrastructure. The project is expected to generate 200 direct jobs, 500 indirect jobs, and $7.8 million in municipal fee payments.
In September, the district achieved one of its most significant milestones of the year: the
awarding of a $57.4 million construction contract for the first dredging phase of the Caño Martín Peña Ecosystem Restoration Project. The award was the first major construction contract for the project that will restore water flow between the San José Lagoon and San Juan Bay, improving ecosystem health, public safety, and economic and recreational opportunities for the region.
Col. Decker called it “a landmark investment in Puerto Rico’s future,” noting that the work “directly benefits eight underserved communities and restores environmental health to one of San Juan’s most vital urban waterways.”
The district also advanced key partnerships with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA). Under Work Order 1, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and designed by the Bureau of Reclamation, the Corps supported National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation, design reviews, and cost and schedule evaluations for the Patillas Dam Seismic Retrofit Project.
Building on this effort, the district and PREPA executed Work Order No. 2, a 10‑year, $47 million agreement providing federal technical and management support for PREPA’s water and hydroelectric infrastructure projects. The collaboration strengthens critical water systems and hydroelectric assets while prioritizing public safety.
Our first Atlantic hurricane season as a fully activated operational unit served as a proving ground for our readiness. That readiness was put to the test in August when Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm. From its headquarters in San Juan, the Caribbean District mobilized quickly, coordinating with FEMA, the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau (PREMB), the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), and territorial governments to assess flood risks, safeguard ports, and provide technical expertise.
The coordinated response strengthened communication and accelerated decision‑making during a fast‑moving, high‑impact event. Building on this effort, the Caribbean District also joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan to enhance post‑storm response capabilities across Puerto Rico and the USVI. By aligning roles and sharing resources, all agencies established a stronger framework for rapid, coordinated action when hurricanes strike.
In addition to our work in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2025, the Caribbean District also supported the U.S. government’s broader missions across the Caribbean Basin. Through the Corps’ Interagency and International Support Program, the district provided partner nations and sister services with technical expertise that strengthened regional stability and supports U.S. Southern Command’s ongoing security cooperation efforts across the region.
Throughout the year, we also celebrated significant personnel achievements, including
groundbreaking research by Dr. Jorge Rivera‑Cruz. His full‑scale structural testing revealed a critical flaw in national building codes affecting low‑seismic regions, showing that certain concrete beams could fail in shear before activating lifesaving catenary action. His findings prompted updates to the 2025 American Concrete Institute’s 318 code, strengthening design requirements across the United States and internationally. Rivera‑Cruz’s work is now shaping safer building practices, informing federal infrastructure projects, and earning widespread recognition across the engineering community.
The leadership potential of District Project Engineer Elythania (Ely) Díaz Marrero and Project Manager Cristina Montenegro Torres was also recognized with their selection to the Corps of Engineers’ Level 2 Leadership Development Program (LDP). This competitive program prepares emerging leaders for higher‑level responsibility across the Corps, strengthening skills in strategic planning, team development, and organizational leadership.
Finally, two of our own – Chief of Construction Maricarmen Crespo and Chief of Engineering Chad Gillan –
received the Bronze de Fleury Medal, one of the Engineer Regiment’s most respected honors. The award recognizes exceptional leadership, technical excellence, and lasting contributions to the engineering profession and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
As 2025 ends, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also closes out its 250th year of Engineering Excellence.
It is a legacy the Caribbean District is now proud to be part of. In our first full year as the Corps’ newest district, the Caribbean team contributed to this heritage by advancing critical infrastructure, strengthening coastal and flood defense, supporting military readiness, and deepening partnerships across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, enhancing the Caribbean region’s strategic posture and long‑term stability.
As 2026 begins, our district stands firmly established as a fully operational, regionally focused team ready to deliver year‑round support to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. With our first hurricane season behind us, major civil works projects underway, and a growing portfolio of regulatory, military construction, and emergency management responsibilities, the district enters the new year positioned to deepen partnerships, accelerate project delivery, and continue strengthening the communities it serves.
“What we accomplished in 2025 reflects more than construction milestones or project awards; it reflects trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to building a safer, stronger, and more resilient future for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Col. Decker. “I could not be prouder of our team, our partners, and the communities who walk this journey with us. Together, we are proving what a dedicated district can achieve when service, innovation, and purpose come together.”