14 Aug 2026

Ensure, maintain and prepare: Kansas City District holds continuity of operations exercise

It’s said that failing to plan is planning to fail. Having a plan, whether in your personal or professional life, in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency situation is sometimes easier said than done. With September being National Preparedness Month, there is no better time than the present to make a plan for the worst-case scenario. All federal agencies are required by a Presidential Policy Directive to have a continuity of operations program. These programs ensure agencies can continue to operate mission essential functions in the event normal operations are disrupted. Practicing continuity of operations is an essential part of the program, allowing agencies to prepare before a real emergency.

29 Jul 2026

Bigger than a pit stop: How USACE at Napoleon supports the MR340 race

Starting at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas rivers, the Missouri American Water MR340 is one of the world's longest nonstop river races. But behind the curtain, the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has played a vital role in making sure the river is ready for racers and commercial navigators alike. This story highlights the decades-long partnership with race organizers and the unique perspective of district employees who have experienced the Missouri River both as stewards of its navigation system and as MR340 competitors.

28 Jul 2026

“Get up, dress up and show up”: The veterans value to the USACE workforce

National “Hire a Veteran Day” was founded in 2017 by U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Dan Caporale. Celebrated annually on July 25, it’s a subtle nudge to challenge domestic employers to tap into an already professionally trained and ethically sound subset of the American workforce. So, to emphasize the value veterans bring to the workforce, the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeks to highlight some of the veterans who made the successful transition from service uniforms to polo shirts.

25 Jun 2026

Built by disaster, sustained by partnerships: Conducting periodic inspections of the Soldier Creek levee system

Designed and erected after historic 1951 floods and tested by modern ones, the Soldier Creek Diversion project quietly reduces flood risk to communities in and around Topeka, Kansas. Every five years, a multidisciplinary team from the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, walks the project searching for small problems before they become big ones. This is part of an ongoing partnership with local officials that helps ensure the nearly 70-year-old infrastructure continues safeguarding lives and property for generations to come.

3 Jun 2026

Boots on the ground: Exploring the heartland’s best trails

Throughout the thousands of acres of federal lands the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages, there are an abundance of trails the public can access — whether they’re looking for casual exercise or satisfying the outdoorsman within you. With recreational season in full swing and National Trails Day falling on June 6, it’s time for a deep dive into the most scenic and exhilarating paths USACE has across the Midwest.

29 Apr 2026

“We’re replacing everything — screens, systems, all of it,” A closer look into command center and conference room renovations

Regular meetings, presentations or briefing complex projects to high-level military and civilian leaders is foundational to the culture of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. That’s why the Kansas City District is undergoing a massive undertaking to improve technology in its emergency operations center and the plethora of conference rooms around its headquarters.

24 Apr 2026

Caring for Those Who Serve: New Hospital Opens at Fort Leonard Wood

After six years of construction and much excitement among the community it serves, the opening of the new General Leonard Wood Community Hospital was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 31, 2026, bringing partners from across the region together to mark the important event. Drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd to the event, the ceremony marked off a milestone for the project, which provides a much needed and highly anticipated modern healthcare facility for the military community in and around Fort Leonard Wood, in Pulsaki County, Missouri.

22 Apr 2026

A Life of Service Earns Top Civilian Scholastic Honor

Not all leaders are loud and in your face. They don’t have to demand recognition of their status or demand obedience from their subordinates, and they aren’t motivated by the number of awards they can hang on their walls. Occasionally, a leader is simply recognized and respected because of their calm and quiet way of offering advice and providing mentorship or direction. They look for opportunities to help. They ask the right questions and make those around them feel heard and seen by listening. Luckily for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District, these leadership qualities are found in Eric Shumate, the Deputy District Engineer and the chief of Planning, Programs and Project Management Division.

3 Apr 2026

Eagle Days soars on, bringing generations together at Missouri’s largest reservoir

Hosted annually in late February and staffed by a hodgepodge of Harry S. Truman Lake personnel and volunteers from one Kansas City Districts longstanding partners, Eagle Days celebrated another year of monumental success — despite missing some of the events' traditional fan favorites.

3 Apr 2026

Rebuilding where soldiers live: Inside barracks transformation at Fort Riley

Dependable housing with modern amenities for U.S. Army personnel stationed at Fort Riley and elsewhere, is a constant priority for the top brass charged with leading our nation’s largest military branch. So, engineers from the Fort Riley Residence Office are helping U.S. Army leaders sleep a little more soundly by working diligently on a $35 million project to improve quality of life for soldiers, one quad or single barracks room at a time.