Posted on April 20, 2026
By Annette Kirklin, public affairs specialist
VICKSBURG, Miss.— The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) recently hosted RD26, the fifth installment of its biennial research and development workshop, bringing together a record number of participants from across the enterprise.
Organized by the ERDC Emerging Leaders Group and the ERDC Leadership Development Program, the series is a cornerstone for collaboration and innovation. With more than 795 registered attendees, RD26 was one of the largest workshops to date, highlighting the value of the event.
Centered on the theme “ERDC Today, Tomorrow, Always,” the workshop highlighted ERDC’s current capabilities while looking toward the future of science and engineering. The event featured a lineup of keynote speakers and a record-breaking 380-plus oral and poster presentations that showcased the depth of research across the organization.
Brig. Gen. Kirk Gibbs, deputy chief of engineers and deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), addressed the attendees as a welcome keynote speaker.
“What I really appreciate about the RD Workshop series is how it enhances that cross-laboratory collaboration,” Gibbs said. “You get to meet new colleagues and learn about their projects and their expertise. I can’t wait to see the exciting R&D that will come from this week’s collaborations.”
Other keynote speakers included Austin Golding, president and CEO of Golding Barge Line, and Stephen Hill, director of Operations and Regulatory for USACE. The final day’s keynote speaker was Nick Boone, director of ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, who stressed that a culture of collaboration must remain at the heart of ERDC’s mission to serve the warfighter and the nation.
ERDC Director Dr. Beth Fleming, who opened and closed the event, encouraged attendees to collaborate across disciplines and embrace challenges.
“Collaboration and working across labs and disciplines is the secret sauce that has made us a world-class organization and the go-to R&D organization for USACE, the U.S. Army and many others,” Fleming said. “Events like this help us meet the research needs of the day and will shape the ERDC many of you will lead in the future.”
RD26 reinforced the strength of the ERDC workforce and its commitment to innovation, ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of engineering and scientific excellence.
