Photo By AnnMarie Harvie | Carl Niemitz deployed to Brussum, Netherlands to perform work on projects at the U.S....... read more read more
When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District (NAU), put out a call for assistance to administrate construction projects due to an employee shortage last fall, five members of the New England District’s (NAE) Construction Division volunteered to assist. The deployments resulted in much needed manpower for NAU and numerous benefits for NAE’s construction team members. Some of these benefits included the unique experience international travel in direct support of the warfighter and NATO, as well as working closely with foreign counterparts throughout Europe. This deployment served as a great learning and networking experience that will stay with them for the rest of their careers.
Project Engineer, Steven Dougherty, arrived in Sanem, Luxembourg on Sept. 5, 2024, to work on a Deployable Airbase System Storage Complex of facilities, equipment, and vehicles (DABS/FEV) in Sanem, Luxembourg.
“I have a background in reviewing submittals, the modification process, project scheduling, cost estimating negativity and mentoring all of which I utilized to help the project,” he said.
Dougherty’s project is in direct support of NATO and is a multi-facility project of humidity controlled and covered warehouse space. There are three primary facilities to be constructed – controlled humidity warehouses, a warehouse supply and equipment base, and a refueling vehicle shop.
“I was an onsite project engineer working submittals, schedule reviews and modification,” said Dougherty. “But I also provided backfill for quality assurance (QA) as needed.”
Communication amongst the various languages spoken was a challenge, said Dougherty. Those languages were Turkish, French, Portuguese and English. Dougherty wasn’t able to learn all those languages, but with every challenge comes a solution.
“The cook got a raise and worked as my translator,” said Dougherty.
Dougherty said to adapt to the European building standards he had to resurrect his knowledge of the metric system and learn to work within multiple building codes.
The Project Engineer said that he enjoyed working with multiple nationalities on site, and the free transportation allowing convenient off duty travel to France, Germany, and Belgium. Dougherty also said there were many hiking trails for those who enjoy the activity.
“The area is extremely picturesque,” he said. “There are steep hills, an ancient walled city and the trees turn color like New England.”
Dougherty returned to New England on Dec. 5, 2024.
“While in Romania, I supported four active contracts as a Project Engineer,” said Andrew Arcieri, a Project Engineer deployed to the Transylvania Project Office in Romania on Oct. 20, 2024.
The projects there included constructing a fighter jet parking apron, a permanent operational storage jet fuel facility, a dangerous cargo pad with a taxiway to connect to existing infrastructure and a deployable air base system (DAB) complex.
“The DABs project is the one with the largest contract value and the one I worked on the most,” he said.
Arcieri believes the projects he worked on are important for maintaining and deepening relationships with Romania.
“Romania is a valuable NATO ally, and it is a country I swiftly have learned to love,” he said.
Romania shares a small border with Ukraine. Arcieri feels the projects he worked on in Romania have a substantial impact in promoting peace and security in the region and Europe as a whole.
Some of the challenges that Arcieri came up against was working in partnership with foreign contractors, and executing contracts that conform to both American, European and Host Nation standards.
When asked about the highlights of his deployment, which ended mid-February, his response was, “Everything.”
“One of the reasons I love working for USACE is the opportunity it offers me to work on challenging and complex construction projects that have substantial impact on the world,” he said. “I have experienced a part of the world I may have never visited otherwise. I am very grateful for this opportunity.”
Dougherty agreed with Arcieri’s sentiment.
“I highly recommend a tour of duty or position to the European theater during one’s career,” he said.
Project Engineer, Travis Dancewicz, deployed to Benelux Army Garrison – Brunssum Netherlands on Sept. 9, 2024, in support of the Benelux Area Office to assist with work due to a personnel shortage.
“The office stated they needed a competent Project Engineer to assist with new personnel learning the systems and also to aid in construction administration on multiple projects,” he said.
While deployed Dancewicz worked on numerous projects to include Eygelshoven electrical upgrade, hardstands and wash rack renovation, the renovation of Brunssum Medical Storage Warehouse, and several Zutendaal projects to include multiple buildings, a fire suppression Loop and warehouse renovations.
Dancewicz overcame a language barrier, differences in designs and funding to accomplish his projects while overseas. He said the different type of work from what he’s used to in New England and exploring different countries have made the experience of overseas deployment a positive one. He said that the local people in the Netherlands were extremely welcoming and excellent to work with and live amongst.
“There are both historical and new things to see everywhere. The Netherlands is centrally located in Europe, so many places are easy to get to,” he said. “Also, the Netherlands infrastructure is amazing. It was easy to get everywhere by bike train or walking. There are all types of food all over. It’s a true melting pot.”
Dancewicz praised the Europe District team for the work they do every day.
“The people that work there permanently are doing the work of multiple people,” he said. “They are as diligent as they can be and have been a pleasure to work with. With the turnover of personnel, the people that are there have done so much to keep the office afloat.”
Carl Niemitz, PE, Area Engineer, deployed to Brunssum, Netherlands on Nov. 7, 2024. While in the Netherlands, he supervised a staff of three project engineers and five quality assurance representatives working on seventeen projects.
“Supporting Europe District was a great learning experience,” said Niemitz. “I’m fortunate to have had the opportunity to live abroad for three months. Of course, all my USACE projects are important because they support the U.S. Army and our warfighters.”
Niemitz said his biggest challenge working abroad was overseeing an office that has lots of personnel turnover and constructing facilities that must simultaneously adhere to U.S. and foreign country laws and building codes. Despite those challenges, there were many highlights to working in Europe.
“The Brunssum Resident Office administers construction contracts in Belgium, Netherlands and Germany, so being able to visit and experience the culture, food and people of those three countries has been amazing,” he said.
Niemitz returned to the New England District Feb. 6.
“I deployed as some of our projects were winding down in our office, so when I heard that Europe District was looking for people to go TDY there I had an opportunity to go,” said Emily Pottier, a mechanical engineer who deployed to Chievres Air Base (CAB) in Chievres, Belgium on Sept. 1, 2024.
Pottier’s project in Belgium is CAB’s utilities and included repairs to the potable domestic water supply, fire protection water system, and sanitary sewer system on base.
“I mainly worked on change jobs,” said Pottier. A change job or order is a document used to alter the original agreement on a construction project. It details the changes in the scope of work, cost, and schedule that are required. In many instances, the construction contract dictates the change order process.
“This project had many open change requests when I arrived, some of which were stared in 2023. So, I helped to move those along and get them finalized,” she said.
Pottier said that some of the challenges she faced laid in understanding the differences between how things were done in Belgium versus the United States, to include different specifications for projects.
Pottier said that there were many highlights of her time working for Europe District.
“I had the opportunity to meet more of the people I’ve been working with and seeing what the project was all about,” she said.
Taking advantage of the train system, Pottier said she was able to visit Amsterdam and Brussels on her time off.
Pottier returned to the New England District on Feb. 27 but worked on projects for Europe District remotely until April 1.
The New England District is proud of its mission to support all branches of service and its warfighters both home and abroad. Any District team members who are interested in deployment opportunities should discuss the possibility with their supervisors.
| Date Taken: | 03.28.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2025 11:20 |
| Story ID: | 494367 |
| Location: | CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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