For more than a decade, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, benefited from the steady leadership of a respected mentor, advocate, and champion. Under the guidance of Lisa Metheny, who served as the District’s Senior Civilian since 2014 and retired in July 2025, Charleston delivered some of the nation’s most important projects while building a culture recognized across the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
With her retirement, the District enters a new chapter—one grounded in continuity, experience, and a deep understanding of what makes Charleston successful.
“It’s an honor, and I am truly humbled to build on the foundation Lisa established,” said Dan Klingshirn, the new Senior Civilian and Deputy District Engineer for Programs and Project Management (DPM). “I’m excited to work with this team to continue delivering for our partners, stakeholders, and the nation.”
Klingshirn steps into the role with the confidence of someone already deeply familiar with the organization. As Deputy DPM, he has provided programmatic oversight of the planning, design, and construction of more than $400 million annually in Civil Works, Military Construction, and Interagency and International Services projects supporting critical missions across South Carolina and beyond.
“One of my personal goals is to ensure there are no changes in how we deliver projects or how our customers experience working with us,” Klingshirn said. “Any improvements we make internally should be transparent to our partners. What they should continue to see is reliable delivery and strong relationships.”
For Klingshirn, the District’s greatest strength has always been its people.
“It’s all about the people,” he said. “Internally, our team is outstanding, and the culture we’ve built here is special. That culture is the foundation of our success.”
A nine-year veteran of the Charleston District, Klingshirn brings a diverse background in engineering, project management, and leadership. Prior to serving as Deputy DPM, he was Chief of the Military Construction (MILCON) and Regional Reimbursable Project Management Branch, where he supervised 15 senior project managers supporting four primary customers across nine states. In that role, he spearheaded efforts that delivered annual obligations averaging $100 million and oversaw the programming, design, and contract award of the Army’s largest MILCON project in FY24, valued at $160 million.
Before that, Klingshirn served as a Senior Project Manager supporting Joint Base Charleston, where strong partnerships led to a significant increase in workload—from $4 million to $25 million, with a $90 million surge in fiscal year 2018. During this period, he also completed a detail to the USACE Europe District, initiating design for six MILCON projects supporting the European Deterrence Initiative.
Prior to joining USACE, Klingshirn worked with Naval Facilities Engineering Command in Hawaii and Italy, delivering complex design-build projects and managing overseas construction programs supporting humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping, and prisoner of war (POW) recovery missions throughout Southeast Asia, Oceania, and East Africa.
In addition to his civilian service, Klingshirn serves as a Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, with more than 20 years of active and reserve service. Klingshirn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University. He is a graduate of both the National Defense University and the Naval War College, a registered Professional Engineer, a certified Project Management Professional, and a Level III Acquisition Professional.
If asked to describe the Charleston District in one word, he answers without hesitation: “Entrepreneurial.”
“We are dedicated to delivering important projects,” he said, “and we do so with a strong commitment to collaboration and excellence in all of our relationships.”
The Charleston District’s mission touches daily life across the region—from maintaining the deepest port on the East Coast and addressing water challenges throughout South Carolina, to supporting the warfighter by delivering critical facilities for partners such as Fort Jackson, the 81st Readiness Division, the Defense Logistics Agency, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“These are generational projects,” Klingshirn said. “They have lasting impacts on our nation and our state. The work we do today will outlive us.”