Posted on September 9, 2025
SOUTH BAY, Fla. – The Honorable Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) and Maj. Gen. Jason Kelly, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, visited the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District keynote project at the Central Everglades Planning Project Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) phase Aug. 22, 2025.
Juan Sanchez- Bulted, the Area Engineer and technical lead for the Everglades Agricultural Area office, Jacksonville District presented the brief that showcased the critical work at the project.
“This visit has been eye-opening for me to understand the scale the project, complexities of work and challenges that exist at this project,” said Telle. See it firsthand helps us understand that we must continue to find ways to accelerate the schedule and reduce costs.
Kelly lauded Sanchez-Bulted for his technical expertise, descriptive models and insight of timetable and costs.
“It is an honor and privilege to watch (Sanchez-Bulted) our technical lead present this project to our senior most leader,” said Kelly to Bulted. “Our goal for this visit is to get the ASA up to speed on understanding the overall complexities of the phases and timelines and this masterful team did well.”
Bulted provided a brief tour of the EAA 10A construction site, briefing the group about the specialized machinery and unique operations in working with the foundation.
“This is a huge project to understand, and Mr. Tell had some great questions,” said Sanchez-Bulted. “I think we provided him with a good overall brief, and he grasped an understanding of the Central Everglades Planning Project Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) phase.”
After the brief, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) team provided an aerial tour that included the Everglades Agricultural Areas currently under construction with aerial inspections of the EAA project, Lake Okeechobee, the C-43 and C-44 projects, WERP Tamiami Trail and the Broward Preserve areas.
Telle serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of the Army on all matters related to the Army’s Civil Works Program. In this role, he establishes policy direction and provides supervision of Department of the Army functions relating to all aspects of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program.
These responsibilities include programs for conservation and development of the nation’s water and wetland resources, flood control, navigation, and shore protection, all important aspects of the President’s climate resilience priorities.
Telle was recently appointed as ASA, used his first visit as an opportunity to meet employees at the South Florida Area Office in Palm Beach Gardens, and the South Florida Operations Office in Clewiston, to interact with project managers and engineers, and gain a first-hand perspective of the operations and projects within the district’s area of operation.
“The complexity of this effort requires the best of us and that’s what we have… a team compiled of the best of the United States Army Corps of Engineers working in partnership, in collaboration with the State of Florida, a very capable partner in the South Florida Water Management District and there’s a lot of work yet to be done,” said Kelly. “But, I’m confident that we are getting the engineering right, getting the project management right and we’ve got the right team working on this project.”
The EAA project is located 27 miles south of Lake Okeechobee, 45 miles west of West Palm Beach, 75 miles east of Fort Myers and 75 miles northwest of Miami.
(The public can obtain news, updates, and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District on the district’s website at https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleDistrict, and Twitter at www.twitter.com/JaxStrong.’
Juan Sanchez- Bulted, Area Engineer for the Everglades Agricultural Area office, Jacksonville District gives a brief to the Honorable Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) and Maj. Gen. Jason Kelly, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, and during a visit to the Central Everglades Planning Project Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) phase Aug. 22, 2025. (USACE photo by Mark Rankin)
Maj. Gen. Jason Kelly, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, talks constuction with Howie Gonzales, Deputy District Engineer for Programs and Project Management Programs & Project Management Division, Jacksonville District during a visit to the Central Everglades Planning Project Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) phase site in Clewiston, Fla. (USACE photo by Mark Rankin)
Maj. Gen. Jason Kelly, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, the Honorable Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and Juan Sanchez- Bulted, Area Engineer for the Everglades Agricultural Area office, Jacksonville District discuss project issues during a recent visit highlighting the critical work at the Central Everglades Planning Project Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) phase Aug. 22, 2025. (USACE photo by Mark Rankin)
Juan Sanchez- Bulted, Area Engineer for the Everglades Agricultural Area office, Jacksonville District gives a brief to the Honorable Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) and Maj. Gen. Jason Kelly, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, and during a visit to the Central Everglades Planning Project Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) phase Aug. 22, 2025. (USACE photo by Mark Rankin)
Maj. Gen. Jason Kelly, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations signs a project flag at the Central Everglades Planning Project Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) phase project during a visit. (USACE photo by Mark Rankin)
The Honorable Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works signs a project flag at the Central Everglades Planning Project Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) phase project during a visit. (USACE photo by Mark Rankin)
