Photo By Michael Glasch | Col. Paul Owen is the new USACE Transatlantic Afghanistan District commander.... read more read more
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - USACE Transatlantic Afghanistan District (TAA) welcomed a new commander, Col. Paul E. Owen, during a change of command ceremony today on Bagram Air Field.
Owen comes to USACE-TAA from the USACE New York District where he served district commander. This is Owen's second tour of duty in Afghanistan, having deployed as part of Combined Joint Task Force -- 82 in 2009-2010.
"I'm very proud to be here today," Owen said. "There's no better opportunity or situation in the Army than to step out of one command and to have the opportunity to step right into another command. I'm very thankful to Maj. Gen. Carlson (USACE Transatlantic Division commander) for having the faith in me to continue the mission here in USACE TAA."
Maj. Gen. Todd Semonite, commander, Combined Security Transition Command -- Afghanistan, who presided over the change of command, cited Owen's leadership in the Corps' Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, saying "we have another superstar stepping up."
"Paul Owen is in there, brand new in command… we bring in all the best colonels in the regiment to pump out all the tunnels in the New York City and get it up and running. Paul's oversight and leadership of that was simply phenomenal," Semonite said. "Then, what happened was he oversaw a $3 billion program to restore all the beaches, the shorelines, the flood protection structures up and down New Jersey and New York."
Owen takes over from Col. Pete Helmlinger, who took command of USACE-TAA June 27, 2014. Helmlinger will be going to USACE Headquarters where he will serve as the next Chief of Staff for the Corps.
"Pete, you're going to move onto one of the hardest jobs we ever ask a colonel to do in the entire regiment," Semonite told Helmlinger. "The leadership of the Corps does not pick those jobs and those people by happenstance. That is a very calculated thing where we really try to find somebody who continues to have the potential to step up, to continue to take the real hard calling of serving not just here, but our nation as a whole."
Helmlinger said that as he reflects back he is thankful for everyone who has helped him achieve the promise he made one year ago when he first assumed command of USACE TAA.
"In the past year the district has met my pledge to deliver projects, improve capability by completing over 145 projects for the ANDSF [Afghan Nation Defense Security Forces] and to provide critical infrastructure for the Afghan people," Helmlinger said. "I am truly honored and humbled to have been a part of this organization making a difference and making history in Afghanistan.
"But the mission is not yet finished," Helmlinger added. "I know the district and our partners will continue to make history. USCAE TAA will clearly be in great hands under Col. Owen's capable and inspiring leadership."
USACE-TAA was formed in July 2013 by merging the Afghanistan Engineer District North and Afghanistan Engineer District South.
USACE-TAA executes construction and engineering operations throughout Afghanistan in support of Resolute Support; provides sustainable development projects for the Afghan people that employ the populace, build skilled human capital and promote the future stability of Afghanistan through construction projects for the ANDSF, the Afghan Infrastructure Fund, military construction and the Commander's Emergency Response Program.
Owen was commissioned as an Engineer officer from the U.S. Military Academy in 1990, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He holds a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Missouri University of Science and Technology, and a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Owen's military education includes: Airborne School, Air Assault School, Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, and Army Command and General Staff College. He is a Senior Service College Fellow through the Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellowship Program at Cisco Systems, San Jose, California. He is a licensed Professional Engineer (Civil) in the state of Missouri.
Owen previously commanded USACE New York District, headquartered in New York City. The District is responsible for civil works programs in the Lake Champlain/Hudson River watershed and New York/New Jersey Harbor, along with coastal flood risk reduction on Long Island and Northern New Jersey.
Additionally, the District is responsible for design and construction at Army and Air Force installations in New Jersey, New York, and overseas in Greenland. Owen coordinated the federal engineering efforts for FEMA during initial response actions after Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, and led the implementation of a $3 billion region-wide recovery program designed to reduce the risks of future coastal storms in New York and New Jersey.
Owen's other assignments include tours of duty with the 79th, 94th, and 54th Engineer Battalions, Company Commander, and Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Engineer School; 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Hood, Texas, as the operations officer for the 588th Engineer Battalion, which included a one year deployment during OIF-1 in Baquba, Iraq; deputy commander for the Chicago District, United States Army Corps of Engineers, where he participated in Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts as the operations officer for the Louisiana Recovery Field Office; commander for the 11th Engineer Battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia; division engineer, 82nd Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, deployed to Afghanistan as part of Combined Joint Task Force -- 82 in 2009-2010; and deputy commanding officer for 20th Engineer Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
His military awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and Combat Action Badge. He is a recipient of the Army Engineer Association Silver de Fleury Medal.
| Date Taken: | 06.18.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.18.2015 11:03 |
| Story ID: | 167125 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 524 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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