LAS VEGAS, Nevada (August 24, 2026) – Terracon, a leading national consulting engineering firm comprised of engineers, scientists, architects, facilities experts, and field professionals, is proud to announce that John E. Casey, P.E., has been named Regional Technical Consultant.

In this role, Casey will support technical excellence and client service across the Southwest region, drawing on more than 38 years of geotechnical and environmental consulting experience.

Throughout his career, Casey has led hundreds of environmental remediation, hydrogeologic investigation, and geotechnical engineering projects across the Western U.S. His expertise spans groundwater hydrology, environmental site assessments, remediation design, and geotechnical investigations for a wide range of commercial, industrial, and public-sector developments.

“John’s technical expertise, integrity, and dedication to our clients will make him a valued leader and trusted resource across Terracon,” said Brent Borchers, P.E., Director of Regional Operations at Terracon. “We are pleased to have him in this role, where he will continue to support our teams and clients with the experience and professionalism he is known for.”

Casey earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from New Mexico State University and completed graduate-level studies in foundation design and groundwater hydrology at Colorado State University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona.

In addition to his extensive technical experience, Casey’s expertise contributed to the verification of a Guinness World Records achievement for the world’s deepest measured hot spring in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. During the record verification, a 1,002-foot plumb line was lowered into the geothermal spring without reaching the bottom, helping establish the remarkable distinction.

TUCSON, AZ (Aug. 21, 2026) — The Tucson City Council has approved the conveyance of approximately 212 acres of city-owned land near Air Force Plant 44 to the U.S. Air Force, clearing the way for additional buffering, security and potential expansion of RTX’s operations and Raytheon expansion south of Tucson International Airport.

The measure passed Tuesday on a 4-2 vote, with Council Member Nikki Lee recusing herself.

The property is part of a larger tract acquired by the City of Tucson in 2020 for approximately $6.47 million. The land was purchased as part of a long-running regional effort to protect Raytheon’s operations at Air Force Plant 44 from encroachment and preserve room for future expansion.

City Manager Tim Thomure told the council that the City and Raytheon had agreed years earlier that the property would be acquired and held for that purpose.

According to city documents, the approximately 212 acres will support continued buffering, security and potential operational growth at Air Force Plant 44 and the Raytheon Airport Site.

The conveyance is part of a broader land strategy that dates back more than a decade. Pima County documents from 2019 identified a roughly 297-acre tract known as Parcel H, including approximately 212 acres intended as a buffer for Raytheon operations and additional acreage associated with a planned munitions storage area.

The Tucson Airport Authority, City of Tucson, Pima County, the U.S. Air Force and Raytheon have worked through a series of land acquisitions and exchanges surrounding Plant 44 as part of efforts to accommodate improvements at Tucson International Airport while protecting the defense manufacturing complex.

During Tuesday’s council discussion, members questioned why the Air Force was requesting the property now and whether a specific expansion was planned.

Thomure said any future expansion would be associated with RTX and Raytheon operations. He also specifically ruled out speculation that the property was being sought for a data center.

The city will not receive a direct cash payment for the property. Thomure explained that the original $6.47 million purchase was funded through a special Raytheon-related account established in 2009.

City Attorney Roi Lusk told council members that if the City declined to convey the property as contemplated, it would be required to repay the $6.47 million.

The arrangement drew criticism from resident Gerald Montag, a Marine Corps veteran, who questioned why the federal government should receive the property without paying the City fair market value.

City officials countered that the money originally used to acquire the property was tied to the Raytheon agreement and that future expansion of the site could generate additional high-paying jobs.

The vote comes as Raytheon continues to expand its defense manufacturing workload in Tucson. Air Force Plant 44, located adjacent to Tucson International Airport, is federally owned and operated by Raytheon for missile and defense systems manufacturing.

The 212-acre conveyance does not itself authorize a specific new Raytheon facility. Rather, it secures land that has long been intended to provide a protective buffer and accommodate potential future expansion of one of Southern Arizona’s largest employers.

PHOENIX, Ariz. (August 21, 2026) – Knipp Commercial recently reached a significant milestone, surpassing 100 completed school improvement projects across 50 educational campuses throughout the West and Southwest.

This achievement reflects more than a decade of helping schools create safer, more functional and modern learning environments for students and educators.

With more than $14 million in completed and ongoing work this year alone, Knipp Commercial continues to expand its portfolio of faith-based, parish and private school renovations across Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Washington.  Knipp is currently working on a $7 million, 17,000 SF new build for another school.

Since 2013, the company has delivered a wide range of capital improvement projects, from campus security upgrades and HVAC modernizations to classroom renovations, restroom improvements, ground-up construction, and playground enhancements.

Many of the schools served by Knipp Commercial are long-standing institutions that have not undergone major renovations in decades. Through careful planning, specialized construction expertise and close collaboration with school leadership, the company helps campuses address critical infrastructure needs while creating spaces that better support learning and student engagement.

“Reaching 100 school projects is an incredible milestone for our team because every project represents a school community that has invested in creating a better environment for its students,” said Knipp Commercial Principal Wendy Knipp. “Whether we’re renovating classrooms, upgrading security systems, modernizing restrooms or building new playground spaces, our goal is always the same: to provide safe, welcoming and functional facilities where students can learn and thrive. We are honored to play a role in helping these schools serve future generations.”

The 2026 project portfolio showcases a wide variety of specialized construction scopes across six major local and regional markets: Phoenix – St. Theresa and St. Matthew; Seattle – Our Lady of Guadalupe; Denver – Annunciation Catholic School; Houston – St. Christopher, St. Mary of the Purification, and Our Lady of Guadalupe; and Las Vegas – St. Viator; and Los Angeles – St. Odilia.

“Many of these schools have been serving their communities for decades, and some have not seen significant facility improvements since they were originally built,” Knipp said. “Seeing students and teachers return to a transformed campus at the start of the school year is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. It reminds us that construction is ultimately about creating spaces that positively impact people every day.”

Looking ahead, Knipp Commercial is building on this momentum to meet growing regional demand for institutional capital improvement projects, commercial retrofits and campus security modernizations.

“This milestone reflects the trust that schools across the region have placed in our team,” said Knipp Commercial Director of Construction Ken Mione. “Every campus has unique needs, and we approach each project with a commitment to quality, collaboration and long-term value.

“From critical infrastructure upgrades to improvements that enhance the daily student experience, our focus is on delivering solutions that strengthen each school’s ability to serve its community for years to come,” Mione said.”