Leadership of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District changed hands June 23 when Lt. Col. Timothy W. Shebesta was sworn in as the district's 58th commander.
At a military ceremony at the Bay Model Visitor Center, Lt. Col. Kevin P. Arnett relinquished command of the district he has led since 2021. Shebesta assumed command after having most recently served as Professor of Military Science at his alma mater, Marquette University Army ROTC.
“Many of you have heard me say this before, but I will say it again, how happy I am to be part of this District. When I commissioned in the Army 16 years ago, I knew USACE was where I wanted to command,” said Shebesta. “To the District [employees], thank you for the warm welcome you have given me. I’ve been very impressed by what I see and it makes me even more excited to be part of a group of experts like you,” later adding, “I’m very excited to continue the hard work this District has been doing for decades.”
Lt. Col. Shebesta was born in Antioch, IL, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. He has also earned a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota. He holds a current license as a Professional Engineer and a Project Management Professional certification.
Some of his previous assignments include commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division during a third deployment to Taji, Iraq. Next, he served as an Area Engineer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District, followed by an OC/T Team Chief and Operations Officer in 181st Multi-Functional Training Brigade of First Army in Fort McCoy, WI. As a major, he served as the Current Operations Integration Cell Operations Officer, Battalion Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army South in Fort Sam Houston, TX.
The Corps' San Francisco District has served the Bay Area since 1866, providing support for 22 federal shipping channels and the region's $68 billion annual maritime industry, and is the federal agency responsible for keeping the Bay's navigation channels free of debris. Its largely civilian workforce operates two major dams that provide drinking water, recreation, and mitigation against the risk of flooding. The district also oversees the largest wetland restoration projects west of the Mississippi.
