The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Learning Center has officially launched in-person instruction at its cutting-edge facility located in Redstone Gateway, Huntsville, Alabama. This strategic move marks a significant upgrade in training resources for USACE and other government agencies, promising enhanced workforce development and student experiences.
Relocated from the Bevill Center at The University of Alabama in Huntsville, the Usace Learning Center began operating on the first floor of Building 100 Secured Gateway in March. Initially, classes were conducted virtually due to COVID-19 protocols. However, with the phased return to in-person learning, the center is now welcoming students and instructors back to the classroom, initially focusing on mission-critical courses that necessitate on-site presence.
Roy Elam, Director of the USACE Learning Center, emphasized that the relocation was strategically driven by two key objectives: bolstering workforce security and significantly improving the student learning environment. The new location within Redstone Arsenal provides a crucial advantage in cybersecurity.
“Being situated on Redstone Arsenal grants us direct access to the secured USACE network via Wi-Fi, a capability we lacked at the UAH campus. This enhanced cybersecurity is a substantial benefit,” Elam stated. He further highlighted the improved security measures within the facility, including security personnel and CAC-access throughout the premises, ensuring a safer and more controlled training environment.
Beyond security enhancements, the USACE Learning Center at Redstone Gateway boasts state-of-the-art technology to facilitate seamless global connectivity. Equipped with advanced video conferencing tools and monitors, classrooms can now effortlessly connect with instructors and leadership worldwide. This technological leap proved invaluable for the center’s inaugural in-person course, the Visitor Assistance Program, designed for USACE park rangers.
“During this course, leadership from Headquarters in DC were able to provide briefings to the class via WebEx directly from their desks,” Elam explained. He contrasted this with the previous limitations at Bevill, where scheduling dedicated VTC rooms was necessary for such interactions, highlighting the increased accessibility and flexibility now available.
The new USACE Learning Center is also designed to foster collaboration and interactive learning. Eight dedicated “huddle rooms” are available, providing smaller, collaborative spaces where classes can break out into groups for project work or focused study sessions, catering to diverse learning needs. Each huddle room is equipped with a tablet computer for scheduling and communication, ensuring efficient use of these resources. Furthermore, numerous communal areas are strategically placed throughout the facility, encouraging informal gatherings and networking among students.
Recognizing the needs of both local and out-of-town participants, the location at Redstone Gateway offers unparalleled convenience. Within easy walking distance or a short drive from the USACE Learning Center, students and instructors can find a hotel, a variety of restaurants, and a coffee shop, creating a comfortable and convenient environment for those staying away from home. The center itself also features a dining area with concessions, supplemented by daily food truck arrivals offering diverse lunch options.
Jonathan Carlisle, Northwest Division’s natural resource program manager and lead instructor for the USACE Visitor Assistance Program, underscored the positive impact of these amenities on the overall learning experience. Traveling from Portland, Oregon, multiple times a year to lead the week-long training, Carlisle, a veteran of over 40 classes at the center’s previous location, has experienced the improvements firsthand.
“Personally, being on the Arsenal and having everything readily accessible is significantly more convenient,” Carlisle noted. “It also contributes to improved punctuality for classes, which is crucial for minimizing disruptions.”
Prior to the pandemic, the USACE Learning Center trained approximately 10,000 students annually, with over half participating in traditional classroom settings. While currently prioritizing in-person training for mission-critical courses, Director Elam expressed optimism about fully utilizing the center’s four large classrooms in the near future.
“The better trained our personnel are, the more effectively we can execute our operations,” Elam asserted. “This state-of-the-art facility enables more effective training for a greater number of students, ultimately yielding a substantial positive impact on USACE as an organization.”
Beyond its standard course catalog, the USACE Learning Center is equipped to host large-scale conferences and seminars. In August, the center is scheduled to host the annual USACE Safety Officer’s meeting, anticipating nearly 100 in-person attendees from across the Corps, with additional participants joining virtually via WebEx.
Building 100 Secured Gateway, home to the USACE Learning Center, is an integral part of Redstone Gateway, a dynamic mixed-use development strategically located near Gate 9, catering to government contractors and research institutions. This 250,000-square-foot building within the secured section of Redstone Gateway accommodates approximately 1,400 employees from various prominent organizations, including the Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space, the FBI, USACE, and Finance Centers.
For comprehensive details about the USACE Learning Center and its extensive catalog of over 200 course offerings, please visit ulc.usace.army.mil.
