Posted on December 15, 2025
KILN, Miss.— In partnership with the Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) cut the ribbon on the new home for I-ATLAS — a collaborative coastal mapping effort that provides the data needed to prepare, respond and stay ahead of emerging challenges in both civil works and national defense operations.
The Interagency Airborne Technologies for Lidar, Analysis, and Surveying (I-ATLAS) was previously known as the Joint Airborne Lidar Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise (JALBTCX). First established in 1994, the mission has grown into one of the Nation’s most critical engines for coastal intelligence.
“It’s going to help us get larger vessels into our ports so we can decrease the cost of goods arriving and departing from the U.S.,” explained Chris Macon, operations manager for I-ATLAS. “From a military aspect, it will make sure that our ships are able to navigate the waters, take the safest and shortest possible route to get through an area.”
With a dual mission set of research for both national defense and civil works applications, I-ATLAS is also home to multiple partners. At the ribbon cutting, speakers from the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality all touted the importance of this collaborative approach. In addition to those agencies, the partnership also includes USACE, the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.
“That’s a lot of thank yous, but every single one of you deserve it for your foresight and your work with this consortium,” Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said at the ribbon cutting after listing all the partner agencies with I-ATLAS.
Also speaking at the event was the Hon. Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. During his remarks, he shared how the rebranded program will allow for even more collaboration between different groups, maximizing the benefits to the taxpayer and giving the United States a competitive advantage.
The new facility equips the I-ATLAS team to advance next-generation capabilities, including AI-driven data processing, autonomous coastal survey platforms and multi-sensor fusion technologies that provide unmatched accuracy and speed. These rapidly evolving tools directly align with Department of War priorities for speed, modernization and operational readiness.
Beyond its national impact, the new facility brings regional benefits to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The career fields at I-ATLAS are STEM-driven, and the program’s academic partnerships help build a strong trained pipeline for the next generation of coastal mapping experts. Local leadership touted how Ignition Park strengthens the region’s innovation ecosystem, supporting economic growth and high-skill workforce development.
“From hurricane impacts to global defense operations, I-ATLAS gives our Nation the data advantage needed to prepare, respond and defend,” said Dr. Beth Fleming, Director of Research and Development for USACE and Director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. “This facility represents the future of coastal resilience and national preparedness.”
USACE Mobile District Commander Col. Kelcey Shaw, ERDC Director Beth Fleming, and Commander of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Rear Admiral Erin Acosta pose for a photo at the ribbon cutting and Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony at the Stennis Airport, Kiln, Mississippi, December 5, 2025. The ceremony celebrated the standing up and opening of I-ATLAS a new joint endeavor of USACE, ERDC, NMOC, NOAA and the U.S. Geological Survey. (U.S. Army photo by Keesha Robinson)
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle speaks during the ribbon cutting and Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony at the Stennis Airport in Kiln, Mississippi, December 5, 2025. The new I-ATLAS takes the place of the old JALBTCX and combines USACE, ERDC, the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, NOAA, and the U.S. Geological Survey. (U.S. Army photo by Keesha Robinson)
Dignitaries officially sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Stennis Airport in Kiln, Mississippi, December 5, 2025. The MOU officially stood up the new I-ATLAS, a joint endeavor of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ERDC, NOAA, NMOC, and the USGS. (U.S. Army photo by Keesha Robinson)
