LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - During a July 2 ceremony at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center in downtown Little Rock, Col. Courtney W. Paul assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District.
He replaces Col. Glen Masset, who is retiring after 31 years in the U.S. Army.
Little Rock District is responsible for a $390-million program in fiscal year 2013. This includes civil works, military construction, environmental stewardship, emergency management and support to other government agencies throughout Arkansas, southern Missouri and the nation.
The district has a staff of about 690 employees. It is responsible for maintaining the Arkansas River and other waterways, including 13 locks and dams,12 multi-purpose lakes, seven hydroelectric power plants, and more than a half million acres of public lands and water.
Paul came to Little Rock District from the Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where he was director, Capabilities Development and Integration, Maneuver Support Division of Excellence.
He was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers in May 1987 as an ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate and graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in Geography. Paul also holds a Master’s degree in European Studies from Indiana University. Most recently, he studied at the French equivalent of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces as a Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies of National Defense, in Paris, France.
Paul is also a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Course, the Defense Institute for Security Assistance, the Command and General Staff College, Army Force Management School and the Army War College Fellows program.
He has held a number of command and staff assignments both stateside and abroad during his 26 years as an Army officer, to include participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His military awards include the Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Bronze Order of the Engineer DeFleury Medal.
More information about the Corps’ Little Rock District is available on the Internet at www.swl.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/littlerockusace, and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/usacelittlerock.