Photo By Richard Bumgardner | Images from the retirement ceremony for Brigadier General Kenneth N. Reed, U.S. Army...... read more read more
Brig. Gen. Kenneth N. Reed didn’t just build projects with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — he built teams, trust, and a legacy that spans generations and continents.
After 38 years in uniform, from enlisted Soldier to general officer, Reed retired Oct. 28, 2025, closing a remarkable chapter defined by service, resilience, and heart.
Reed’s story began in small town Louisville, Alabama, population roughly 700, where in 1987 a 17-year-old Reed needed his mother’s signature to enlist in the Army Reserve. That summer, while classmates were learning to drive, Reed was learning how to take orders and lead Soldiers.
“It was no coincidence that the Army recruiter overheard my conversation with a Marine recruiter,” Reed recalled. “He walked up and said, ‘Hey, Youngblood, I can get you in — but your mama has to sign for you.’ And thank God my mama signed.”
The following year he attended Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, as a 29 Echo, field radio repairman.
“He’s one of those uniquely driven people who knew from a young age that he wanted to serve,” said Maj. Gen. Kimberly Colloton, former deputy commanding general for military and international operations. “He took the values he learned growing up: a strong work ethic, humility, and determination, and carried them into every assignment.”
Reed earned his commission in 1995 as a distinguished military graduate from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where he studied civil engineering while participating in ROTC. He later earned master’s degrees in engineering management from the University of Missouri at Rolla and in joint campaign planning and strategy from the National Defense University, along with a Project Management Professional certification.
“My career is a testament to the power of growth and prayer,” Reed said. “From enlisted Soldier to commissioned officer, I learned the vital importance of foundations, the dirt, the hands-on work, and the truth that if the foundation is not solid, nothing you build on top of it will stand.”
A career spanning tactical, operational, and strategic levels
From a platoon leader in Germany during Operation Joint Endeavor and Operation Joint Guard in Bosnia, to company commander in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and later key assignments in Afghanistan with the 36th Engineer Brigade, Reed led with quiet strength and a relentless focus on people.
“Combat zones test you in ways you can’t prepare for,” Reed reflected. “What carried me through was the trust I had in my Soldiers.”
“He always led with integrity,” Colloton said. “He treated everyone with dignity and respect and encouraged them to reach their full potential.”
After years of leading Soldiers in combat, Reed shifted to a very different challenge: guiding an organization where he now led a largely civilian workforce.
As commander of the Fort Worth District, Reed oversaw more than 1,100 employees, managing water resources and development across two thirds of Texas and military construction projects in Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico. One of his signature achievements was delivering the William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss, a state-of-the-art facility with 135 beds, 10 operating rooms, and 30 clinics.
“The project faced delays and challenges, but Ken turned setbacks into opportunities,” Colloton said. “Today, that hospital provides lifesaving care to more than 170,000 service members, veterans, and families. That’s real value to the Nation.”
Reed also led the advancement of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing Western Currency Facility Expansion Project, a $250 million effort to expand one of the country’s most secure facilities. His leadership ensured strong collaboration with federal partners and progress on a project vital to U.S. currency operations.
In early 2021, Reed deployed to Kuwait to operationalize the newly formed Transatlantic Expeditionary District, a consolidation of Task Force Essayons in Iraq and the Afghanistan Engineer District. He guided the district through the Afghanistan retrograde while continuing military construction in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, and expanding operations into Central and South Asia.
“It was one of the most complex construction environments in the world,” Reed said. “But Scripture’s promise of renewal was always my beacon of hope.”
A legacy of leadership
After redeploying in 2022, Reed returned to Texas to lead the Southwestern Division, a role he held for nearly a year until he suffered a stroke while on temporary duty in Alaska.
During medical evaluations following his stroke, doctors discovered he was also facing kidney disease and cancer — a fortuitous finding that allowed for early intervention. Through it all, Reed remained steadfast in his sense of purpose and deeply committed to the mission.
“Philippians 4:13 reminds us: ‘I can do all things through Him who gives me strength,’” Reed said. “That verse carried me through my stroke and cancer battle. Not just me, but Karen and the kids too.”
Karen Reed was honored alongside her husband for her unwavering support and compassion, not only for holding the family together and supporting Reed during his stroke and cancer recovery, but also for the kindness she showed to those under his command.
“To my incredible wife, Karen,” Reed said, “you bore the true cost of my service. Soldiers sign a contract, but families serve too.”
As the Reeds settle into retirement in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, their impact endures, not only in the relationships they built or the leaders he mentored, but also in the families they lifted and the communities they served.
Reflecting on sacrifice, Reed told the audience: “Our service demanded sacrifices. But they pale in comparison to those made by the heroes we lost. We have a moral duty to honor their costs every day.”
In her remarks, Maj. Gen. Kimberly Colloton emphasized Reed’s legacy:
“Ken’s career reflects the very best of our profession. His influence lives in the people he shaped and the example he leaves behind.”
Later, looking directly at Reed and his family, Colloton added a final tribute: “Thank you for your years of service to our Nation. Essayons. This we will defend.”
From a teenager in Alabama to a private in the Signal Corps to a general officer shaping global construction and engineering missions, Reed’s journey embodies the Corps’ motto: Building Strong.
Closing his own remarks, Reed had this to say: “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve alongside all of you. The mission does not end when the uniform comes off, it simply changes.”
| Date Taken: | 12.02.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.01.2025 18:35 |
| Story ID: | 552603 |
| Location: | FORT WORTH, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | LOUISVILLE, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 46 |
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