Photo By Catherine Carroll | Issa Dioubate, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Middle East District civil engineer, views...... read more read more
CENTCOM AOR – In a region defined by complexity and rapid change, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping mission partners do more than meet today’s needs—it is helping them prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.
Across the Middle East, large-scale infrastructure projects are laying the foundation for stronger, more capable defense and security operations. Many of these efforts fall under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, a security cooperation initiative that enables U.S. allies to purchase defense equipment, training, and services—including engineering and construction support—through the U.S. government.
Under this program, the Army Corps of Engineers delivers infrastructure tailored to partner nation requirements— such as administrative offices, maintenance facilities, warehouses, training areas, secure operational spaces, building renovations, and operations and maintenance services.
These projects are closely aligned with the systems and platforms provided through FMS, enabling partners to effectively integrate and sustain new capabilities—while fully funding the work themselves.
That effort begins with master planning, engineering and design services, including site planning, infrastructure layout, building systems, utilities, and force protection requirements. Each facility is tailored to mission needs, environmental factors, and long-term goals.
FMS-funded infrastructure advances U.S. priorities by strengthening partner capabilities in key regions—without relying on U.S. taxpayer dollars. These projects are financed by the purchasing nations, allowing the United States to support security cooperation and regional stability at no direct cost to its own defense budget.
This approach supports deterrence, accelerates regional response, and gives the U.S. more flexibility in an area where flexibility matters.
From concept through construction, these efforts reflect more than just physical development. They represent strategic, long-term investments in regional security and operational readiness.
Issa Dioubate, a civil engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Middle East District, brings that long view to every project. With a background in Army engineering, he understands both the operational value and strategic intent behind each facility.
“When we undertake projects of this scale, we are enabling our partners to develop lasting capabilities,” Dioubate said. “The goal is not simply to build—but to ensure our partners are positioned for long-term operational success.”
For Dioubate, it’s not just professional—it’s personal.
“Having served as an engineer in the U.S. Army,” he explains, “I know how much infrastructure shapes the success of a mission. Now, I apply that experience to help our partners build the kind of capability that makes a lasting difference on the ground.”
The Army Corps of Engineers has a long history of delivering complex infrastructure across the Middle East. What makes the work in this region different is not just the scale—it’s the impact. These projects support everything from long-term logistics and command capabilities to enhanced joint operations, all while strengthening regional partnerships without placing additional demand on U.S. resources.
Working closely with host nations and regional stakeholders, the district ensures that each project reflects shared goals and local needs. The result is infrastructure that fits—not just the mission, but the environment, the people, and the future.
“This is infrastructure with purpose,” Dioubate said. “Each component, each connection, each facility is part of a larger vision—one that supports both national defense objectives and regional stability.”
While capacity building is often measured in terms of physical structures—concrete, steel, and advanced systems—it is also measured in the intangible benefits that go far beyond construction.
“Capacity isn’t just about the physical infrastructure,” Dioubate explains. “It’s about the independence, interoperability, and increased readiness of the region. We’re not just building for today, but for the future.”
In a region where readiness is essential and stability is hard-won, every project undertaken by the Middle East District represents more than just a physical asset—it is a critical component of broader defense strategies and regional stability. Infrastructure, in this context, is not just a product but a pathway to strength, a long-term solution that benefits not only U.S. interests but the security architecture of the entire region.
For the engineers and specialists delivering these projects, the mission is clear.
“Our responsibility is to deliver infrastructure that endures—functionally, structurally and strategically,” Dioubate stated. “This work is not only technical. It is meaningful.”
The Army Corps of Engineers’ enduring presence across the Middle East empowers both U.S. forces and regional partners with the infrastructure they need to thrive—project by project, partner by partner. And in a region where readiness is essential and stability is hard-won, infrastructure isn’t just a product. It’s a pathway to strength.
| Date Taken: | 03.25.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.31.2025 09:44 |
| Story ID: | 494124 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 1,073 |
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