Brig. Gen. Antoinette Gant relinquished command of the US Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division to Col. Chad Caldwell.
The ceremony, hosted by the Deputy Commanding General of the US Army Corps of Engineers Maj. Gen. William Graham, was held at the Bay Model Visitor Center in Sausalito, Calif.
Caldwell, who currently serves as the Commander of the Sacramento District, will serve as Acting Division Commander until Brig. Gen. Kirk Gibbs takes command later this fall.
Brig. Gen. Gant will move on to Chicago to lead the Army Enterprise Marketing Office, the corporate marketing office for the United States Army.
Graham lauded Gant for her tireless efforts during her time with the Corps. “Toni, our loss today is the Army’s gain of a lifetime, and I couldn’t be prouder of you and how you’ve represented the Army and Engineer branch,” Graham shared. “Not just here at SPD, but in Albuquerque, Louisville, our Border District in Phoenix, and throughout your entire stellar career.”
Gant reflected on her time South Pacific Division as one of rising to the occasion no matter the obstacle.
“There have been peaks and valleys but one thing that has never waivered is our steadfast joy as a division for the work we do,” Gant said. “The countless challenges that we turned into opportunities each time we were hit with an obstacle. I am very proud of the work we have done collectively and there is no other place I would have wanted to be.”
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division provides vital engineering solutions in collaboration with partners to secure the nation, energize the economy and reduce risk from disaster. South Pacific Division operates in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and in parts of Colorado, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and Texas that includes 1,100 miles of coastline, 3.9 million acres of estuarine wetlands, 2,290 miles of federal levees and 46 dams and reservoirs. Most recently, South Pacific Division responded to the COVID-19 pandemic working with partner agencies to establish eight alternate care facilities across eight states.
As Acting Commander of South Pacific Division, Caldwell oversees water resources, military construction, environmental stewardship and restoration and emergency management with a workforce of 2,500 civilians and military personnel in four districts across the 10 states.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes and Ohio River Division Commander Brig. Gen. Mark Quander visited Scott Air Force Base in Illinois Aug. 25, 2023, to see first-hand how the Louisville District is delivering key projects for the United States Air Force.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District has a long-standing partnership with Scott Air Force Base and has been constructing facilities there for more than 35 years as part of the district’s Military Construction Program. Currently, the Louisville District has three critical projects under construction on base totaling approximately $300 million.
Quander was able to visit those three projects during his visit. Among the projects toured was the Joint Operations and Mission Planning Center project—a 171,727 square foot facility that will house three Air Mobility Command units and one U.S. Transportation Command unit.
“Construction is nearly 70 percent complete with most of the work now focused on interior efforts,” said Jesse White, Project Engineer for the JOMPC project. “Expected completion is spring of 2024.”
Quander was also able to tour the ongoing renovation of Building 1600, known as the Air Mobility Command Headquarters. The $139 million project includes the complete interior and exterior renovation of the 314,000 square-feet facility.
“There are some challenges here, but it’s clear there is awesome people doing great work,” said Quander. “You’ve got a tremendous team here at Scott, and in Louisville. I just really, really appreciate how you’re navigating complexity, and it’s clear that everybody is all in to deliver these very critical projects for a customer who has a pretty significant national security interest for our country.”
Quander’s visit also provided Louisville District Commander Col. L. Reyn Mann with an opportunity to make her initial visit to the base. Mann, who assumed command of the Louisville District July 27, was anxious to see the district’s projects first-hand, and to meet the team on the ground.
“This is General Quander’s first visit and he’s coming here to Scott, so that’s how important you guys are,” said Mann to the Scott AFB Resident Office staff. “It was just great to spend time with our senior leaders today and to show them the projects.”
During the visit Brig. Gen. Quander recognized four project engineers for their contributions to the highly complex projects. Employees recognized were: Joel Switzer, Nolan Robben, Casey Spencer and Garrett Huff.
“This visit is great for our team,” said Brad Epplin, Scott AFB Resident Engineer. “It boosts morale and shows that Louisville and the entire region has our back and supports our projects and our mission here at Scott Air Force Base.” Epplin leads the team of 22 employees who makeup the Scott AFB Resident Office as they provide construction oversight and quality assurance for ongoing and planned projects on base.
“I have a lot of confidence in this team out here. You all are all over it,” said Mr. Joseph Savage, Programs Director for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes and Ohio River Division. “Louisville team: you guys are consistent winners in terms of program and project delivery.”
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, held an assumption of command ceremony for incoming commander, Col. Calvin A. Kroeger, before a packed room, Aug. 3, 2023, at the Fort Worth Club.
During the ceremony, the district flag, or colors as they are known, were passed from the deputy district engineer, Arnold “Rob” Newman, to the officiating officer, Col. James “Brooks” M. Schultze, deputy commander of the Southwestern Division. Schultze then presented the colors, which symbolized the transfer of command, to Kroeger.
Kroeger returned the colors to Newman, his senior civilian advisor, to complete a traditional act with roots to the Army’s first Manual of Ceremonies, known as The Blue Book, written in 1779.
Distinguished guests for the ceremony included Kroeger’s family and invited friends, joined by Congressman Marc Veasey, Texas 33rd District, other members of congressional staff within the region, local elected leaders, former district commanders and commanders of other districts within the Southwestern Division, and stakeholders from the many projects that the Fort Worth District manages.
Kroeger assumed command of the district from Col. Paul B. Culberson and Maj. Joshua M. Haynes, who had led the district through several transitional periods since December 2022. Haynes returned to his assignment as the deputy commander of the Fort Worth District.
In his remarks, Schultze thanked Haynes for his leadership and for holding down two jobs as the district's deputy commander, and as the acting commander.
“Josh, along with other senior district leaders, have all served in an exemplary manner to keep the district’s missions on track,” Schultze said. “We’re all very appreciative of their steady leadership.”
Schultze went on to welcome Kroeger, saying that being selected to command doesn't just happen by accident.
“The right candidate is a leader of high integrity, that lives the Army Values, and has also demonstrated proficiency as a consummate team-builder, communicator, strategist, life-long learner, along with a vast work ethic,” Schultze said. “Cal, you have proven accomplishments in all these roles - and you are the right leader for command of this vitally important district.”
As commander of the district, Kroeger will manage a team of more than 1200 military and civilian engineering and services professionals, at one of the Corps of Engineers’ largest military construction programs on Army and Air Force installations in Texas and parts of Louisiana.
He will also supervise the operation and maintenance of the district’s 25 lakes and reservoirs, which furnish approximately 30 percent of the state’s surface water supply and provide outdoor recreation opportunities for millions of visitors annually.
This is not Kroeger’s first assignment in the state of Texas, as his very first military assignment more than 22 years ago was to Fort Cavazos.
“One thing that hasn’t changed is the hospitality of Texans, and the genuine welcome we’ve received here in Fort Worth,” said Kroeger.
“Many of you don’t know this, but our family adamantly selected Fort Worth District as our No. 1 preference for command above the 78 other opportunities across the Army,” Kroeger told the audience. “After being here only for a few days, I know we made the right choice, and we are truly humbled to be part of this amazing family of professionals.”
Kroeger closed out his comments with a promise to the district workforce.
“As your commander, I will not ask you to do anything which I will not roll up my sleeves and do alongside you to achieve success,” he said. “I am with you each step of the way as we deliver excellence for our partners and our communities. Essayons!”
To read Col. Kroeger’s full official biography, go to the Fort Worth District website: https://www.swf.usace.army.mil/About/Leadership/Article/3482146/calvin-a-kroeger/
In the time-honored tradition of passing the unit flag, Col. Kathryn P. Sanborn assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, here, Tuesday.
Sanborn replaces Col. Alexander “Xander” Bullock as the district’s 53rd commander. She joins the district after serving as the South Pacific Division’s deputy commander in San Francisco, California.
Col. Sanborn leads a team of 845 employees who undertake military construction in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon; and are responsible for an extensive civil works engineering and construction mission in Washington, Idaho and Montana. Seattle District’s programs also include preservation of historic structures, and hazardous, toxic and radioactive waste cleanup. Seattle District manages $1.1 billion dollars' worth of work annually.
“Now, more than ever, the nation needs a capable, competent, and trusted Corps of Engineers to serve the Army and the nation, and to collaborate with our federal, state and local governments, tribal, industry, non-government partners and academia, to solve the engineering and scientific challenges we're facing,” said Sanborn.
“I am extraordinarily honored and excited for the opportunity to take command of Seattle District and work with this incredible team and our diverse stakeholders to deliver solutions to the toughest challenges and serve the Pacific Northwest communities,” she added.
Col. Sanborn is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic and Captain's Career Courses, Joint Engineer Operations Course, the Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. A licensed Professional Engineer in Vermont and a certified Project Management Professional, Col. Sanborn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from West Point, a Master of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Vermont, a Master of Science in Engineering Management and certificate in Construction Management with the University of Missouri-Rolla, a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College., and a doctorate in Civil Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Seattle District's mission is trifold: to provide engineering expertise and water resource stewardship, fulfill its commitments to its tribal partners, and deliver world-class solutions to protect and serve the Pacific Northwest.
In addition to providing military and civil public works services and support for other agencies, the district plays a key role in environmental protection and improvement, from protecting wetlands to ecological restoration and cleaning up hazardous and toxic waste pollution.
The district’s civil works boundaries encompass 99,000 square miles and contain 4,700 miles of shoreline. The boundaries include the Columbia River system upstream of the mouth of the Yakima River, much of eastern Washington, Northern Idaho and Western Montana to the Continental Divide.
