The history of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District spans more than two centuries. During this time the Louisville District has acquired many diverse programs and missions, one of them being the nationwide reserve program.
The Louisville District provides project management and planning support for Army Reserve Centers in the United States and Puerto Rico. The district’s Reserve Support Team also serves as the design agent for the Air Force Reserve program. The Reserve program makes up more than 25 percent of the Louisville District’s military workload.
“The Louisville District is the National Program Manager for the Army Reserve and Air Force Reserve MILCON (Military Construction) Program and centrally managed Operations and Maintenance projects,” said Cristie Mitchell, Louisville District Reserve Support Programs Branch chief. “We are very customer, stakeholder and partner focused.”
Additional programs, and support services, for the Army Reserve that are centrally managed out of the Louisville District include a National Roofing Program, Full Facility Restoration, Intrusion Detection System, Furniture Procurement, Criteria Management, Real Estate Support, Fire Alarm Monitoring, IT Program, and Environmental Support for MILCON Land Acquisition and Professional Services.
The district's Construction Division Reserve Branch also plays a unique part in the process of delivering the robust program. They are responsible for managing construction nationwide—far beyond the district’s five-state military construction footprint.
“We deliver, not only in a five-state area, but across the nation,” Mitchell said while providing an overview of the program to potential contractors as part of the district’s annual open house. “Delivering on our commitment – that is our goal.”
In 1994, the Louisville District received its nationwide Army Reserve mission, and the Air Force Reserve mission was established in 1999. Since then, countless facilities have been designed and constructed by the district.
Since 2001, a total of 468 Army Reserve projects have been successfully delivered by the Louisville District, and since 2006, 126 Air Force Reserve projects have been completed. As part of the National Roofing Program, 940 new roofs have been installed at 346 facilities.
“Why is this important?” Mitchell asked. “It is to put a human element to the work we do. It is about impacting a war fighter and supporting what they do.”
The Louisville District also supports the Army Reserve furniture program by designing and acquiring furniture for all new and renovated facilities. The program supports Department of Defense Education Activity, also known as DoDEA, with the outfitting and acquisition of furniture and special miscellaneous equipment - like audio visual, electronic security systems, AED, scissor lifts and fire extinguishers – to support schools across the globe.
Currently, the Army Reserve program has 81 active projects in various stages of design or construction, and 118 active projects in the Air Force Reserve program are in various stages of study, design or construction.