PHOENIX, Ariz. – ATTENTION TO ORDERS. BY ORDER OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE SOUTH PACIFIC BORDER DISTRICT IS ACTIVATED.



In a historic moment, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers established its 46th district in a ceremony held in Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 6, 2019.



The newly activated South Pacific Border District falls under the South Pacific Division, one of nine USACE geographic divisions. The South Pacific Division supports California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of five other states to secure our nation, energize the economy, and reduce risk from disaster.



The South Pacific Border District, the fifth district for the South Pacific Division, is a provisional district with a critical mission to support the Department of Defense’s efforts along our nation’s southern border.



This new district evolved from Task Force Barrier, a task force team established by USACE in March 2019 to provide direction and oversight for DOD-funded construction of border barrier projects from California to Texas.



Brigadier Gen. Kimberly M. Colloton, South Pacific Division commander, transferred the command of this new district to Col. Rafael “Pete” Pazos, who has commanded TF Barrier since October.



“As I get the opportunity to command once again, I am humbled and honored,” Pazos stated during his speech. “Becoming the first commander of the South Pacific Border District is an awesome responsibility.



“There is no doubt in my mind that we will continue to excel and build on the successes we had as TF Barrier,” Pazos continued. “With a singularly focused mission, we are performing at a revolutionary pace, providing services that support the installation of critically needed border infrastructure which is directly enhancing our nation’s security.”



USACE has a long legacy of responding to changing defense requirements and continues to play an integral part in the development and security of the nation.



“The South Pacific Border District is fully focused on delivering the program,” Colloton stated during her speech. “It is built on the foundation of USACE and one of its founding fathers, John Keever, of Essayons – Let us try. Given this monumental challenge, we have now postured ourselves to remain responsive, relevant and reliable to our nation’s call.”



The TF Barrier legacy will live on in the adopting of its crest for the Border District.



“Our crest is truly representative of our mission,” Pazos said. “The red castle turret represents USACE, the phoenix represents not only overcoming adversity but our headquarters location, and the shadow of the phoenix formed by 52 markers represent the original markers that delineated the U.S. Mexico border from the 1848 Treaty of Hidalgo,” Pazos explained.



The historical significance and symbolism of the crest is a fitting tribute to the history of securing our nation’s southern border. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, officially titled the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits and Settlement between the United States of America and the Mexican Republic, is the peace treaty signed on February 2, 1848 between the United States and Mexico that ended the Mexican–American War.



“This is an important mission for USACE and I couldn’t be more proud of the dedicated professionals making it happen,” Colloton said. “The work that has been done to help stand up the Border District is monumental.



“The Border District has replaced TF Barrier in name only,” Colloton continued. “The spirit, drive and the expeditionary mindset of you all – the team of teams of extraordinary individuals from across the enterprise and beyond – are the same and we will continue to deliver the mission.”



The South Pacific Border District is providing contracting services, including design and construction oversight, of Department of Defense-funded Southwest border barrier projects in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas at the direction of the Administration and at the request of Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection agency.

NEWS INFO Date Taken: 12.06.2019 Date Posted: 12.09.2019 13:21 Story ID: 354811 Location: PHOENIX, AZ, US Web Views: 388 Downloads: 2 Podcast Hits: 0 PUBLIC DOMAIN This work, USACE establishes a new District, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.