MOBILE, Ala. — In a world powered primarily by electricity, the role of an electrical engineer is essential to continuous operations.
For Gage Catizone, an electrical engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mobile District's Florida Area Office, this role takes on a critical dimension, directly supporting the nation's defense.
Stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Catizone's work in the Construction Division is vital to both military construction and the installation's mission readiness.
"I am the Electrical Engineer for the Florida Area Office," Catizone said. "I am responsible for electrical design review, technical submittal reviews, and site inspections for MacDill Air Force Base, Patrick Space Force Base, Cape Canaveral, and Homestead Air Reserve Base. Electrical engineering is a diverse and rewarding field with a tremendous number of opportunities."
The office's team is a hub of engineering expertise, responsible for a massive portfolio of projects valued at $300 million.
Their duties span across key military sites, including MacDill AFB, Patrick Space Force Base, Cape Canaveral, and Homestead Air Reserve Base. The team's responsibilities are comprehensive, involving meticulous electrical design reviews, technical submittal evaluations, and on-site inspections to ensure every project meets the highest standards.
"Everything you do today involves electricity, and the world would not be the same without it," Catizone remarked, emphasizing the foundational nature of his field. This diversity and the tangible impact of the work make electrical engineering a rewarding career path with numerous opportunities.
Kenith Ward, MacDill Florida Field Office area engineer, said Catizone's dedication and work for the office have been critical, especially stepping up to backfill other roles, such as managing projects due to personnel shortages after the Deferred Resignation Program.
"Gage has the dedication, professionalism, and the ability to balance a demanding workload across multiple offices, directly enabling the successful execution of both military construction and the SRM programs," Ward said. "While supporting dual roles, Gage has also been able to make time and study for the Electrical Engineering PE exam. He passed the test in November 2025 and received his official licensure in March 2026."
Catizone's journey with USACE began just across the street from his current position, where he worked on the design team for the MacDill Air Force Base Civil Engineering Squadron.
His involvement in design reviews and status meetings for ongoing projects gave him a firsthand look at the scale and complexity of USACE's work.
"The larger-scale USACE projects piqued my interest due to higher levels of visibility and responsibility," he said.
Seeing the potential for growth and the chance to contribute to even more significant projects, Catizone saw the move to USACE as a clear and promising career advancement.
"USACE felt like a logical and rewarding next step in my career with a solid foundation and increased advancement opportunities," he expressed.
Today, Catizone is a strong advocate for a career with USACE.
"I would strongly recommend a career with USACE for anyone considering it," he stated. He also offers valuable counsel to those just starting in the field: "For a young engineer, I would reiterate the importance of staying on top of the professional engineering exam process and checking those boxes before getting too far separated from all the detailed information that is learned in college."
Through the dedication of engineers like Gage Catizone, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to power the mission, ensuring that the nation's military facilities are equipped, ready, and resilient for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
"Watching drawings and schematics come to life in the field is the most rewarding experience," Catizone said. "Especially now that I'm branching out into disciplines beyond electrical. Seeing processes as they are physically carried out gives you a whole new lens to view plans on paper, which lets you apply that knowledge to future projects."