About JESCO · Est. 1969

Built on
Honour.
Proven by History.

For over five decades, JESCO has delivered mission critical construction on every inhabited continent - rooted in Cherokee heritage, guided by faith, and recognised as one of America's foremost defence contractors.
Explore Our Work
Our Foundation

Department of Defense Certified

One of the largest certified DoD contractors in the United States

ZPMC Exclusive JV Partner

Joint venture with the world's largest heavy industries company

Largest Private Marine Fleet

One of the largest privately-owned marine fleets in the US

Cherokee Nation Heritage

Veteran-owned, faith-based Native American enterprise
1969
Founded - Mississippi
6
Active continents
180+
DoD Projects Delivered
57yr
Unbroken Track Record
John E. Shavers

President & CEO, JESCO Global Corporation
Vice Chief, Cherokee Nation of Eastern Georgia

50+ Year Legacy
Cherokee Nation
DoD Certified
The Founder

John E. Shavers -
Chief, Veteran, Builder

The largest marine construction contract in Gulf Coast history - secured by a Cherokee veteran who believed integrity was the only foundation worth building on.
In 1969, John E. Shavers - a highly decorated United States military veteran and Vice Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Eastern Georgia - secured what would become the largest marine construction contract in the history of the Gulf Coast. That singular act of determination in Mississippi became the cornerstone of JESCO Construction Corporation.
Chief Shavers is more than a founder. He is a Tribal Elder and custodian of the Sacred Truths of the Cherokee Nation - a title that speaks to the values woven into every JESCO project: stewardship of the land, responsibility to community, and an uncompromising commitment to doing what is right.
Under his leadership, JESCO grew from a single Gulf Coast contract into one of the most distinguished construction enterprises in the world delivering mission-critical work across six continents, from government installations in active conflict regions to the largest project in the history of the Middle East.
OUR MISSION
To construct with honesty of purpose - honouring the land, the people, and the trust placed in us by every client, partner, and community we serve.
        Faith-based. Veteran-owned. Native American enterprise. These are not credentials - they are commitments.
01

Integrity Above All

Every bid, every contract, every structure is built on the Cherokee principle of honesty of purpose. We do not cut corners we build foundations. Our word is our bond, from Pensacola to Kabul.
02

Stewardship of the Land

Cherokee heritage teaches that the land does not belong to us - we belong to it. Every marine terminal, every government installation, is designed with responsibility to the environment and the communities it serves.
03

Service Through Faith

As a faith-based enterprise, we believe that the most durable structures are those built in service to others. Our Foundation literacy programme and veteran employment initiatives are an extension of that belief.

Our History

Five Decades of
Record-Breaking Work

From a single contract in Mississippi to a presence on every inhabited continent — JESCO's story is one of relentless forward motion.

1969

Founded in Mississippi

John E. Shavers secures the largest marine construction contract in Gulf Coast history, establishing JESCO Construction Corporation in Mississippi. A faith-based, veteran-owned enterprise is born.

Origin
1980s

DoD Certification & Government Expansion

JESCO earns Department of Defense certification, becoming one of the largest certified DoD contractors in the United States. Government installation projects begin spanning multiple theatres of operation.

Government
1990s

Global Marine Fleet Built

JESCO assembles one of the largest privately-owned marine fleets in the United States, enabling complex port and harbour construction operations far beyond what competitors could offer.

Marine
2001

Palm Jumeirah — Middle East Record

JESCO delivers materials management for the Palm Jumeirah development in Dubai — the single largest project in the history of the Middle East. A defining moment that announced JESCO on the world stage.

Record-Breaking
2010s

ZPMC Exclusive Joint Venture

JESCO forms an exclusive joint venture with ZPMC — the world's largest heavy industries company — to tackle the Americas' most ambitious marine and port infrastructure challenges.

ZPMC JV
Today

Six Continents. One Standard.

With 24 active projects, 180+ DoD contracts delivered, and operations on every inhabited continent, JESCO remains guided by the same values John Shavers established in 1969 — integrity, stewardship, and service.

Active

About JESCO · Est. 1969

Exclusive Joint Venture with ZPMC

ZPMC is the world's largest manufacturer of port equipment and heavy engineering machinery, responsible for constructing and equipping the majority of the world's major container ports. JESCO holds the exclusive joint venture rights for the Americas - bringing unmatched capacity to the Western Hemisphere's most complex marine and port challenges.
Container Terminals
Heavy Lift Marine
Port Infrastructure
Americas Exclusivity
#1
World's Largest
Heavy Industries
JV
Americas
 Exclusive
70%
Global Port
Equipment Share
Credentials

Certifications & Trust

JESCO's credentials are not just compliance achievements - they are the hard-earned result of five decades of performing at the highest levels of public and private trust.

Department of Defense Certified

One of the largest certified DoD contractors in the United States, with 180+ government construction projects delivered worldwide.

Veteran-Owned Business

Founded by a highly decorated US military veteran. Veteran employment and leadership are core to JESCO's identity and hiring.

Native American Enterprise

A certified Native American–owned business, rooted in Cherokee Nation heritage, with active community stewardship programmes.

Marine Construction Leader

One of the largest private marine fleets in the US. Gulf Coast marine expertise spanning more than five decades of continuous operation.

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(850) 255-5300