FORT BLISS, Texas -- The secretary of the Army made his first official visit to a military installation since being sworn in in late September. Secretary John McHugh arrived at Fort Bliss around 10 a.m., and he spoke to KFOX about construction on post and military families.

McHugh was greeted warmly by a group of military families including children, local leaders, and soldiers inside the gymnasium of a new child development center. He then signed the Fort Bliss Army Family Covenant, which among other things discusses the commitment the post has to families.

Before the signing ceremony, McHugh toured Fort Bliss, seeing all of the new construction for the troop influx in the coming years. Some $4.6 billion is being invested on post, leading the secretary to say he now knows where all the Army construction spending has gone.

"What has to be about every major piece of construction equipment south of Oklahoma in employment here, they have an enormous challenge," said McHugh.

The secretary went to Fort Carson in Colorado after his visit to Fort Bliss.