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  • June

    In 2025, both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers celebrate 250 years of service to America.

    Making America Great: The Army and Its Engineers Celebrate 250 Years of Service

    This year marks a monumental anniversary for America: 250 years of unwavering dedication by the U.S. Army along with its indispensable branch, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Together, these two venerable institutions have played pivotal roles not only in protecting American freedom but also in weaving the very fabric of the nation’s development.
  • Historical photo

    Engineering the Alliance: JED in the 21st Century and Beyond

    As the new millennium unfolded, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District (JED) entered a transformative era. Building upon decades of bilateral cooperation, JED adapted to evolving strategic priorities, technological advancements, and global challenges, all while maintaining its commitment to excellence in engineering, construction and delivery.
  • Historical photo

    Strengthening the Foundation: JED from Cold War to Postwar Transition (1980–2000)

    As the 1980s dawned, the Japan Engineer District (JED) had firmly established itself as a cornerstone of the U.S. military’s presence in Asia. But in the two decades that followed, marked by geopolitical upheaval, economic transformation, and sweeping defense restructuring, JED didn’t just hold the line. It evolved, innovated, and adapted to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.
  • Historical photo

    A New Beginning: The Formation of the Japan Engineer District (1972–1980)

    The 1970s brought a seismic shift to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Far East. On May 15, 1972, after nearly three decades of U.S. administration, Okinawa was officially returned to Japan. The return wasn’t just political; it reshaped how American engineers operated in the region.

  • May

    An Okinawa Engineer District employee demonstrates the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers electrical capabilities to to Mr. Nagamine, Vice President, Ryukyu Electric Power Corporation and personnel from the government of the Ryukyu Islands (1968).

    Rebuilding a Region: The Corps’ Strategic Shift in Japan (1957–1972)

    The world was changing fast in 1957. The Cold War was heating up, American forces were becoming more
  • Engineers walk down the street in Post-War Okinawa, Japan

    From Ashes to Foundations: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Postwar Japan (1945–1957)

    In the smoldering wake of World War II, few places bore the scars of conflict like Japan. Cities lay
  • Col. Patrick Biggs, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan District (USACE JED) explains the fundamentals of engineers to a group of John O. Arnn Elementary School students during their annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) Day event, April 23, 2025. As part of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) curriculum, Arnn’s STEAM Day is a fast-paced event where students are introduced to the dynamic world of STEAM.

    Full STEAM ahead at Arnn Elementary

    It was a day of hands-on learning, as Col. Patrick Biggs, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of

  • April

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District, stands ready to tackle any construction need that America might have. Proudly strengthening America's defense in Japan since 1972, the Japan District works every day to bring peace to the Indo-Pacific region through quality construction for America's warfighters and allies.

    Secretary Hegseth, We're Ready to Build!

    TOKYO - In a recent visit to Tokyo, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth underscored America's
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District, stands ready to tackle any construction need that America might have. Proudly strengthening America's defense in Japan since 1972, the Japan District works every day to bring peace to the Indo-Pacific region through quality construction for America's warfighters and allies.

    アメリカ陸軍工兵隊は、アメリカと日本のために全力で取り組む準備ができています！

    ピート・ヘグセス米国防長官は東京を訪問し、日本における軍事プレゼンスの強化に対する米国の揺るぎない決意を強調した。日本の中谷元防衛大臣とともに会談したヘグセス長官は、米軍の司令部組織をアップグレードし

  • February

    Yuzen Kurokawa, Rina Koyama, and Ryohei Kojima, pose for a photo at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District, August 28th, 2023. The interns joined USACE JED for a period of 4-weeks as participants in U.S. Army Garrison Japan’s (USAGJ) annual Summer Internship Program. The three college-aged students spent their time at JED learning about American work culture, practicing business-level English conversation, and creating material to assist their designated work centers.

    Japan Engineer District begins pilot Japanese intern program

    For the last several weeks, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District (USACE JED)
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) Headquarters stood up their first ever Soldier and Family Readiness Group (SFRG) recently at Camp Zama after having established officers and receiving approval for its standard operating procedure (SOP), making it official.

    Japan Engineer District Stands Up Inaugural SFRG

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) Headquarters stood up their first ever Soldier and Family Readiness Group (SFRG) recently at Camp Zama after having established officers and receiving approval for its standard operating procedure (SOP), making it official.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District’s (USACE JED) Value Engineering Officer (VEO), Kenji Hayashi, accepts the USACE ‘Value Engineering Professional of the Year award’ from JED Commander, Col. Gary Bonham, June 1st, 2023. JED regularly has one of the largest overall military construction (MILCON) programs in USACE, and Kenji Hayashi manages all Value Engineering tasks for a wide range of projects for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).

    Rising Star brings Value Engineering to JED

    Kenji Hayashi, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District’s (USACE JED) Value Engineering Officer (VEO), was recently awarded the USACE ‘Value Engineering Professional of the Year award.’
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) headquarters building, located on Camp Zama, Japan.

    Japan Engineer District Reorganizes

    A historic re-organization has occurred within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District (USACE JED).
  • A large kite, supported by over 50 members of a local Zama City fire department, takes flight during the Sagamihara ‘Giant Kite festival’ May 4th, 2023. Held traditionally since the early 1800s, coinciding with the ‘Golden Week’ holidays of Greenery Day and Children’s Day, the festival pits Zama and Sagamihara cities against each other as each team tries to hoist their massive kite into the air for the longest possible time. These kites, sometimes spanning a whopping 48-feet-wide and weighing almost one ton, require the help of several dozens of people and a support line totaling 650-feet in length.

    'Giant Kite festival' takes flight at Sagamihara

    The Oodako matsuri, or Giant Kite festival, is held annually along the Sagamihara riverbank near Camp Zama, every year on Greenery, and Children’s Day (May 4th and 5th, respectively) – a part of Japan’s ‘Golden Week,’ a string of holidays lasting from May 1st to May 7th.
  • U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant Andrew Gilbert, a project engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) Kanagawa Resident Office, poses with members of the 3rd company’s Eastern Army Japanese Ground Self- Defense Force (JGSDF) members for a commemorative photo, at Camp Asaka, February 2023. Gilbert, through the U.S. Army Japan’s (USARJ) Bilateral Co-Op Program, went to the JGSDF camp to learn their engineering mission, and immerse in Japanese culture.

    Fish out of water: a Soldier's week with the JGSDF

    1st Lieutenant Andrew Gilbert, a project Engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) Kanagawa Resident Office, experienced his first-time usage of heavy equipment, such as an excavator and steamroller, courtesy of his Japanese host nation teammates, the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).
  • From left to right, Mr. Joseph Scala, Camp Hansen’s Camp Director, Ms. Aiko Shimajiri, Japanese House of Representatives member, Marine Corps Installations Pacific (MCIPAC) Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Stephen E. Liszewski, Okinawa Defense Bureau (ODB) Director, Mr. Isao Ono, Camp Hansen’s Commander, Marine Col. Rich Martin, and Kin Town Mayor, Mr. Hajime Nakama, stand poised to cut a ribbon during the Camp Hansen main gate opening ceremony, Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was the culmination of over 4-and-a-half-years of planning and construction to provide residents of Okinawa an easier commute in the local area of Kin Town and Camp Hansen.

    Hansen celebrates new main gate opening

    A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held under the warm Okinawan sun, at Marine Corps Installations Pacific (MCIPAC) Camp Hansen, Wednesday, March 22nd.
  • Shannon Vo, Lead Health Educator and Director for the Camp Zama Army Wellness Center, briefs participants during a nutrition course, February 21, 2023. Courses like the health nutrition, pictured above, are among six kinds offered to Department of Defense (DoD) civilians and their families, along with active-duty servicemembers living and working on Camp Zama.

    Camp Zama's Army Wellness Center - engineering a holistic approach to health

    Have you found yourself feeling listless recently? Too many hours glued to your work computer, crunching numbers, or browsing the same websites day-in and day-out? Have your 5-day-a-week trips to the Post Exchange food court thrown your diet and shape out of tune? How about your mental health – has all the above got you feeling a bit blue? Fear not – there exists a one-stop facility on Camp Zama that can help you get back on the track to a better lifestyle!

  • March

    JED representatives Dr. Rex Mols, OAO’s Host Nation Branch Chief, and Brian Ciccocioppo, Resident Engineer of Okinawa’s Torii Office, judge a science fair being held at the AmerAsia school in Okinawa. The school is home to 63 students, most being half Japanese and half American. The two Engineers have volunteered their own time to encourage interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) at the local school as a way of giving back to the local Okinawan community.

    Engineering Science in Okinawa

    It’s not uncommon to find members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) interacting with students in a school setting. This is part of the USACE science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) initiative, worldwide. Overseas in Japan, one would think you could find America’s Engineers working together with children at any number of Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools as well, and they are. Engineers from the USACE’s Japan Engineer District work directly with DoDEA students and classes, promoting STEM and engineering in general.

  • February

    Zama City General Hospital, located outside the gates of Camp Zama, is a frequented healthcare provider for Department of Defense civilians to seek medical assistance. The hospital has been recently renovated to include space for new technology and added rooms for patients. Numerous Japanese hospitals often offer their services to foreign clientele and feature English-speaking staff members and are familiar with American personnel. Photo courtesy of Zama City General Hospital.

    A friendly guide to visiting a Japanese doctor

    The thought of seeing a foreign doctor in a foreign country while navigating a foreign healthcare system can understandably leave Department of Defense (DoD) civilians and their families living and working in Japan in a state of worry. The intimidation of venturing off-installation to see Japanese healthcare providers is an experience many opt to avoid to the detriment of their own health and peace of mind.
  • From left, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense Health Agency, Ms. Seileen Mullen, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Hon. Gilbert R. Cisneros, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Heck, the director of Department for Health Affairs Region Indo-Pacific to Japan, and Maj. Gen. JB Vowell, U.S. Army Japan Commanding General, receives a question from a Department of Defense civilian, during a ‘space available’ town hall, January 31, 2023. The town hall was held in response to DoD civilians being restricted to ‘space available’ clinic visits after a mandate released in 2017 prioritized active-duty Servicemembers and their families, or those who were covered by the military health plan TRICARE Prime.

    Defense Health Agency to Japan: "We Hear You!"

    It’s no secret that Department of Defense civilians working in Japan are having a difficult time navigating healthcare options in Japan. This is due to restrictions placed on the usage of military-operated hospitals and clinics whose administration and management has recently fallen to the Defense Health Agency (DHA). The agency received a mandate from Congress in 2017 instructing them to prioritize treatment for active-duty service members, their families, and others covered by the military health plan TRICARE Prime, a service only available to Servicemembers on active duty, their immediate family, or as a benefit for someone who is retired from the military.