WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Nation Silver Jackets Team was honored this week with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 2025 Silver Jackets Team of the Year Award, a national recognition celebrating the team’s leadership, innovation, and commitment to protecting Navajo communities from flood hazards.
Established in March 2023, the Navajo Nation Silver Jackets Team is the first tribally led Silver Jackets program in the United States. In just three years, the team has completed or initiated 21 projects focused on flood risk reduction, emergency preparedness, community education, and long-term resilience across the Navajo Nation.
The award presentation brought together leaders from the Navajo Nation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, federal agencies, and local partners to celebrate the team’s accomplishments and ongoing work.
“This award is really about partnership,” said Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren. “No matter who is in office or what administration is serving, the mission remains the same: working together to help communities and improve people’s lives. The Silver Jackets Team has shown what can be accomplished when agencies come together with a shared purpose.”
President Nygren highlighted the team’s efforts in communities such as Birdsprings and Chinle Wash, where flood mitigation planning, emergency preparedness exercises, and infrastructure improvements are helping protect residents from future flooding events. He also recognized the Corps’ participation in initiatives such as Light Up Navajo and other community-based projects that bring critical services to underserved families.
“At the end of the day, this work is about giving people hope,” Nygren said. “When we help make communities safer, improve infrastructure, and prepare for emergencies, we’re showing families that they can continue to build a future in the places they call home.”
The team’s work spans watersheds across the Navajo Nation, including the San Juan River, Little Colorado River, Rio Puerco, and Chinle Wash. Projects have included flood risk assessments, community workshops, emergency action plans, tabletop exercises, post-fire flood mitigation efforts, and bilingual outreach to Navajo-speaking residents.
National Silver Jackets Program representatives praised the Navajo Nation team for setting the standard in interagency collaboration and community-centered risk reduction. Chosen through a nationwide review process, the Navajo Nation Silver Jackets Team was recognized for its ability to bring together tribal, federal, state, county, and local partners to address flood risks while strengthening long-term community resilience.
The award reflects not only the accomplishments achieved since 2023, but also the continued commitment to protecting communities, improving preparedness, and building a safer future for generations to come.
