US Air Force Archives

Sharing the beach: CEMML supports snowy plovers and communities in California

In 2020, Vandenberg Space Force Station and CEMML began providing educational programs at local elementary schools to spread awareness about the snowy plover, a rare migratory shorebird currently listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Over 600 students have participated in the program since the program began.

May 6, 2024

Canine detectives help locate long-forgotten burials at a Virginia military base

Mulberry Island, Virginia, the location of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, has a long history of human habitation, dating back 10,000 years. The area has more than 230 archaeological sites, including cemeteries with unmarked graves. CEMML, in partnership with the Fort Eustis Cultural Resources Program, is using human remains detection dogs to help identify unmarked burial sites to better understand, honor, and preserve the area’s rich history.

February 7, 2024

CEMML partnership helps ensure Native American voices are heard in military planning

Much of the roughly 26 million acres that the Department of Defense oversees nationwide was once occupied by Native American tribes. Military installations are legally required to consult with interested tribes when carrying out projects that affect natural and cultural resources. A tool developed by CEMML and the Air Force Civil Engineer Center helps determine which tribes may have an interest in an installation’s land or airspace.

January 4, 2024

Spreading the love of monarchs: CEMML intern works with Midwestern pollinators

As part of his CEMML internship, Alexx Uecker’s work for the Midwest Natural Resources Program of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center gave him the opportunity to study bats and support important pollinators like the monarch butterfly. During his six-month experience, Uecker supported monitoring and survey efforts at Air Force bases across the Midwest.

November 29, 2023

On a Hawaiian military base, CEMML staffers help residents safeguard water quality

Teaching local residents and children how to take care of their Oʻahu home is the specialty of CEMML’s Angie Arroyo and Kristy Morris. As water programs support staff, they help Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, an Air Force and Navy base, implement its stormwater program. As part of their role, they provide educational programs at local libraries and schools and work with adult volunteer groups.

August 15, 2023

Three decades of impact: CEMML associate director brings career to a close

Military lands management wasn’t on Calvin Bagley’s radar as a possible career path when he graduated with a master’s in range science from Utah State University in 1987. But an initial role with the Army Corps of Engineers’ Construction Engineering Research Laboratory would eventually lead him to Colorado State University and a thirty-year career with CEMML helping the DoD manage its natural and cultural resources.

July 26, 2023

From geography to financial management — a CEMML principal investigator changes careers at CSU

As part of CEMML, Shannon Voggesser spent the last 18 years working with maps. Most recently as principal investigator and head of its GIS team. During her career with CEMML, she discovered an interest in the finance and budgeting side of her work. In June, she transferred those skills over to CSU’s Office of Engagement and Extension where she now supports project managers as the grant and special funds manager.

July 21, 2023

A career-changing student finds success through CEMML

With the help of CEMML’s Early-career Development Program, James Fujioka is making a transition from managing kitchens to managing natural resources. After beginning his career in the culinary arts, the added stress of working in the restaurant industry during the pandemic, combined with his love for the outdoors, made him rethink his career trajectory.

July 6, 2023

CEMML herpetologist slithers off into the sunset

CEMML principal investigator Tom Mathies retired in June after six years with the Center. An expert in herpetology and invasive species, Mathies was captivated by the natural world from a young age and has spent a lengthy career studying snakes, lizards and bugs of all kinds. During his time with CEMML, Mathies developed a biosecurity program in Guam, helping the military control invasive species across the Marianas.

July 5, 2023

From pizza delivery to natural resources planning

Amber Bumgardner Mense always knew she wanted a career in the outdoors. After earning multiple associates degrees and certifications, volunteering every chance she got, and navigating a slow job market during the COVID pandemic, she came across an opening in CEMML’s Early-career Development Program. That experience led to a full-time position with CEMML as a Natural Resources Planning Specialist.

June 1, 2023

CEMML program helps military installations plan for climate change

CEMML’s Climate Adaptation and Management Planning Program (CAMPP) provides a multi-disciplinary analysis of the threats that Department of Defense installations face from climate change. Program manager Dr. Mindy Clarke shares her perspective on the origins of the CAMPP program, its current work, and its vision for the future.