Photo By Jared Eastman | Col. Richard Pannell, former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Mississippi Valley...... read more read more
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Mississippi Valley Division (MVD), Deputy Commander, and Mississippi River Commission (MRC), Secretary, Col. Richard P.R. Pannell retired from the U.S. Army during a ceremony in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Aug. 10.
USACE MVD, Commander, and MRC, President, Maj. Gen. Richard Kaiser, provided remarks during the retirement ceremony and commended Pannell for his service to the nation.
In attendance at the ceremony were members of Pannell’s family, including his wife Evelyn Pannell; his parents Clifton and Sylvia Pannell from Athens, Georgia; his mother-and-father-in-law, Alex and Gina Wilson from St. Augustine, Florida; and many more. Also in attendance were fellow graduates from the U.S. Military Academy class of 1989; MRC members Brig. Gen. Paul Owen and the Honorable Dr. Norma Jean Mattei; and USACE MVD and Vicksburg District employees.
Originally from Athens, Georgia, Pannell graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire in 1985.
On July 1st, 1985, at the age of 17, Pannell reported for “Reception Day” at West Point, New York, along with 1,400 members of the Class of 1989. After four years of training, education and character development, Pannell graduated and received his commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Army assigned Pannell to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as a platoon leader and executive officer in the 307th Engineer Battalion. During this assignment he deployed for combat duty in Saudi Arabia and Iraq for Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Upon his return to the United States, Pannell married the former Evelyn Wilson on June 29th, 1991, beginning a 27+ year partnership.
Pannell’s military service highlights include commander, A Company and C Company, 554th Engineer Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri (1994-1997), Battalion S3 and executive officer, 9th Engineer Battalion, Schweinfurt, Germany (2003-2005); commander, 7th Engineer Battalion, Fort Drum, New York (2006-2008); deputy commander, 18th Engineer Brigade, Heidelberg, Germany (2008-2011); senior engineer, III Armored Corps, Fort Hood, Texas (2012-2013).
Other significant assignments include senior engineer observer/controller at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany (2005-2006) and instructor/assistant professor of Geography in the Geography and Environmental Engineering Department at West Point (1999-2002) where he taught courses in climatology, geomorphology and physical geography.
Pannell transitioned from the operational Army to a strategic role in support of the nation’s water resources infrastructure program. From 2013 to 2016, Pannell commanded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District along the Texas Gulf Coast managing water resources to ensure navigation, improve flood protection and promote environmental stewardship. Pannell served his final assignment in USACE in the dual role of deputy commander of the Mississippi Valley Division and secretary of the Mississippi River Commission from 2016-2018. During this assignment he deployed for disaster response during Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Maria where he served as the deputy commander (Forward) for South Atlantic Division in Puerto Rico.
Pannell’s overseas service includes three tours in Germany and three combat tours in the Middle East for operations Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pannell earned a Master of Science in water resources management from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Science in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also has a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Pannell’s military education consists of the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced courses, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (3), Meritorious Service Medal (5), Army Commendation Medal (2), Humanitarian Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Sapper Tab and Ranger Tab.
Pannell and his wife, Evelyn, have two daughters: Abigail and Emma. Abigail is a graduate student at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, and works in Austin, Texas. Emma is an officer in the Military Police Corps attending her basic course at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and will be stationed in Germany.
| Date Taken: | 08.10.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.20.2018 10:41 |
| Story ID: | 289461 |
| Location: | VICKSBURG, MS, US |
| Hometown: | ATHENS, GA, US |
| Hometown: | ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, US |
| Hometown: | WEST POINT, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 292 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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