FORT SHAFTER -- Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Chief of Engineers, visited the Honolulu District and Pacific Ocean Division (POD) headquarters here July 23-24 on the final leg of his tour of three POD Districts (Japan, Korea and Honolulu).
Bostick became the 53rd U.S. Army Chief of Engineers May 22 and has since spent the past two months touring the various Corps Districts and their projects as well as meeting the workforce of Soldiers and civilians.
Honolulu District Commander Lt. Col. Thomas D. Asbery escorted Bostick throughout his visit
to the District, which included a meeting and luncheon with District leadership and a visit to the
District's project site of the future Command and Control Facility (C2F) for the U.S. Army
Pacific at Fort Shafter.
Bostick's first stop in Hawaii was an office call with Pacific Ocean Division Commander Brig.
Gen. Richard L. Stevens at Division headquarters where he also listened to briefs by Division
staff on POD missions and initiatives.
During the meeting with the Honolulu District leadership Bostick was briefed on the District's
missions and construction workload.
While in Hawaii, Bostick also made office calls to the commanders of the United States Pacific
Command, the U.S. Army Pacific and the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and he also met
with Soldiers of 130th Engineer Brigade, 84th Engineer Battalion (Construction Effects), 65th
Engineer Battalion (Combat Effects) and A Company, 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) at
Schofield Barracks.
At the Command and Control Facility project site Bostick was briefed by Program
Manager/Project Manager Lise Ditzel-Ma on the overall phase plans for the C2F and by phase
one Project Engineer Gerald Young on the current status of construction.
At a joint POD-Honolulu District Townhall at the Fort Shafter gymnasium, Bostick focused his
remarks on the U.S. strategic shift to the Asia-Pacific region.
"The military leaders, civilian leaders and leaders of other countries I have met in this region all
speak very, very highly of your work," Bostick said.
"When talking with the Pacific military leadership (PACOM Commander) Adm. Locklear and
(USARPAC Commander) Lt. Gen. Wiercinski about the Corps projects in this area of
responsibility and the continuing military focus on the Pacific, I told them the Corps is already
there. What we need to do is figure out how to extend a higher level of commitment for us and
for the Army," he said.
"One of the takeaways I've learned on my travels while being here is that people are very happy
with the work you've done. When projects are turned over, the customers are very satisfied with
the high quality of work and they expressed to me they're looking for more opportunities to work
with the Corps," Bostick said.
Throughout his tour Bostick stressed the importance of the work being done by POD and
Honolulu District for the U.S military, the people of Hawaii, U.S. Territories and Pacific Rim
nations and for the U.S. by emphasizing work could not be done without the District and
Division's employees.
"The overall value that you add, not only in the work that you do, but in terms of engagement in
this part of the world -- politically, economically and militarily and being ambassadors for our
country -- you do a huge service to our military and country," he said.
"It's very important that we are successful in doing what the President has said in terms of
focusing our energies, our leadership and our capacity to serve the nation and military in this part
of the world. I sincerely appreciate your personal leadership, energies and team efforts to
support the Corps and the Army in this theater."
Social Sharing