Corps’ first permanent female Division Engineer takes command of LRD

Photo By Rachel Haring | Maj. Gen. Merdith “Bo” Temple, Acting Chief of Engineers, transfers command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes and Ohio River Division to Col. Margret W. Burcham during the change of command ceremony, Sept. 19, 2011, at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio.  

CINCINNATI, OH, UNITED STATES

09.19.2011

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters

CINCINNATI – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers made history yesterday when Col. Margaret W. Burcham, first full-time female officer selected as Division Engineer, took command of the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Museum.

Burcham, commissioned at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in 1982, previously served at the Pentagon as the Chief of the Joint Capabilities Division of the Resources, Assessments and Force Management Directorate and the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region North District in Iraq.

As division commander, Burcham will lead seven engineer districts that include over 4800 personnel operating in a 17 state area with the responsibility for the federal water resource development throughout the Great Lakes and Ohio River basins with infrastructure valued at over $80 billion. With an annual operating and construction budget exceeding $2 billion, missions include planning, construction and operations of navigation structures and flood damage reduction, hydropower, environmental restoration, water conservation, recreation and disaster assistance. LRD also executes military construction in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan with design and construction of barracks, hospitals, airfields and family housing on military installations.

Burcham has a master's degree in computer science from Kansas State University and her additional military education include the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, the Command and General Staff Officers Course, and the Senior Service College, Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Her previous assignments include the 516th Engineer Company and the 130th Engineer Brigade in Hanau, Germany; Far East District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Seoul, Korea; U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.; 4th Region (Reserve Officer Training Corps) and 864th Engineer Battalion at Fort Lewis, Wa.; U.S. Total Army Personnel Command in Alexandria, VA; 94th Engineer Battalion in Vilseck, Germany; Headquarters U.S. Army Europe in Heidelberg, Germany; and Human Resources Command in Alexandria, Va.

• Date Taken: 09.19.2011
• Date Posted: 09.22.2011 16:12
• Story ID: 77466
• Location: CINCINNATI, OH, US