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A 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch salute: 250 years of the U.S. Army

Camp Chaffee

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For 250 years, the U.S. Army has stood as a symbol of strength, service and adaptability. At 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch, we鈥檙e proud to have played a role in supporting that legacy, helping to deliver the infrastructure and innovation that help keep our nation strong and mission ready. As we mark this historic milestone, we sit down with our federal solutions integration leader, Jason Kirk, to reflect on the evolution of our partnership, the projects that have shaped our journey and how we鈥檙e helping the Army prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.

A 108-year history with the U.S. Army

In 1917, during the early days preparing for World War I, the War Department requested 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch to oversee the construction of Camp Pike near Little Rock, Arkansas. In response, the company deployed 75 engineers to the project and made an impression, later being chosen to lead the construction of Camp Chaffee 鈥 built entirely from the ground up in the hills near Fort Smith, Arkansas. Later, during World War II, 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch once again was called upon, this time to help construct Camp Hale in Colorado, which played a pivotal role in training the newly-formed 10th 鈥淢ountain鈥 Division.

Barracks Construction

Today, 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch continues to provide the U.S. Army with advanced infrastructure, security and technology solutions that supports the Army鈥檚 evolving mission. Current projects include modernizing critical infrastructure like Army ammunition plants and installation energy systems.

Can you talk a bit about the legacy 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch has with the U.S. Army?

I'm a retired Army colonel. I had the honor of serving in our U.S. Army for 26 years. I retired about seven years ago and was privileged to join the 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch team two and a half years ago. I operated for 26 of those years under the Army鈥檚 motto, 鈥淭his We鈥檒l Defend.鈥 We're all about the defense of the nation. I think about 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch, we鈥檙e not 250 years old, but we are 110 years old. That's a big number, and our motto is, 鈥淏uilding a World of Difference庐,鈥 which we do by helping federal agency clients such as the Department of Defense (DoD) and specifically, the Department of the Army. We design and support the construction of projects that help defend our nation all over the world. Today we're proudly serving the Army and our Department of Defense out in the Pacific islands in Eastern Europe, in the Middle East, in Alaska and in Army bases all over the United States.

If you were explaining our work with the Army to someone new, what is the first thing you would want them to understand?

We know and respect their mission and the clients we are privileged to serve. A number of us on the 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch team served in the U.S. Army in uniform or as civil servants. Veteran or not, our 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch team recognizes the importance of serving clients like the U.S. Army.

What is one thing 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch is proud of in the work we are doing?

The neat thing is we're able to bring many of our solutions to bear for the Army and the broader DoD. These solutions include design of command-and-control facilities, aviation facilities, missile defense infrastructure, master planning for bases, civil works infrastructure and cybersecurity. We've been delivering those sorts of solutions in one form or the other for 108 years.

How has 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch contributed to the Army鈥檚 modernization efforts, specifically in areas such as energy, resilience, infrastructure, sustainability, and mission?

We help bring the best technology, defense communication, physical security, and cybersecurity to our clients. 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch is there to bring those innovations into the Army facilities that we're privileged to design. For example, microgrids, through our mission assurance solution we create more resilient bases in terms of their power infrastructure. We are building a world of difference by designing projects that help support and defend the nation.

Camp Pike
Construction Camp Pike
Camp Pike, Little Rock, AR, 1917

What does the Army's 250th anniversary mean to you, both professionally and personally?

The Army is fundamental to the foundation of our nation because we're celebrating the Army's birthday one year before we celebrate 250 years of America. National defense and the Army enabled the creation of our nation鈥擨 am proud to be a part of that. Army retirees have a motto that says, 鈥淪oldier for Life.鈥 Being part of the 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch federal team allows me to still support the Army's mission, all while I'm sitting here as a civilian.

Does being a retired colonel change how you view the work 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch does with the Army?

We still know people, both personally and professionally, that are in the Army, so these projects that enable their mission are personally relevant because we feel like we're still, as they say, part of the fight. Teddy Roosevelt has the quote, 鈥淭he credit goes to the man who is actually in the arena.鈥 This is sort of a way to stay in the arena supporting the big mission. We have projects in Baumholder, Germany, where I served. My grandfather is a veteran of World War II, on the island of Saipan. We are getting to support in that area now.

What's coming down the pipe that you're excited about?

The Army ammunition plants are an area we work in today. The Army is focused on recapitalizing these plants to make them as efficient and cost effective as possible. High quality, long-lasting facilities as our government invests in what's called the defense industrial base. The second thing I would mention is our long-standing support of the U.S. military鈥檚 ballistic missile defense program. In both of these priority areas, 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch is bringing innovative expertise to support the Army and the broader Department of Defense.

As we celebrate the U.S. Army鈥檚 250th Anniversary, we are proud to reflect on the progress we were able to help make, through the early design of camps to the continuation of advancement in areas critical for sustainability.

We鈥檙e proudly serving the Army and our Department of Defense out in the Pacific islands, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Alaska, and across the U.S.,鈥 says Jason Kirk. Wherever the mission leads, 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch is there 鈥 Building a World of Difference庐.

COL (USA, Ret.) Jason Kirk, P.E., F.SAME, Assoc. DBIA鈩

Serves as the 日韩福利 在线 & Veatch Federal Solutions Integration Director. Prior to his private-sector career, he served in the engineer regiment for 26 years from Sapper platoon leader to U. S. Army Corps of Engineers district commander. Jason served with the 11th En Bn at Fort Stewart, Georgia, the 299th En Bn at Ft. Cavasos, Texas and the 40th En Bn in Baumholder, GE and Iraq. He also served with the New Orleans District of USACE and commanded the Jacksonville district and earlier the Charleston district. Jason is a registered professional engineer in Florida and Missouri.

Jason Kirk

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