USACE-POD greets new commander

By Terri KojimaJuly 21, 2014

Pacific Ocean Division Change of Command
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Maj. Gen. Richard L. Stevens relinquished his position as commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Pacific Ocean Division to Col. Jeffrey L. Milhorn, during a change of command ceremony, July 18, at historic Palm Circle, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

With the passing of the ceremonial flag, symbolizing the official change of command, Milhorn became the 31st commander of the Army Corps' division serving the Asia-Pacific region. He now leads an organization that employs 1,600 military, Department of Army, host nation civilian engineers, technicians and other professionals in the annual execution of a $3.2 billion program.

The mission includes engineering design, construction and real estate management for the Army in Hawaii, Army and Air Force in Alaska, and for all Department of Defense agencies in Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands.

"I am exceptionally proud to be joining the U.S. Corps of Engineers Team and family and contributing to an already storied and invaluable lineage to our nation and international partners," said Milhorn. "I am honored."

Milhorn is no stranger to Hawaii, having served two previous command tours at Schofield Barracks, with the 25th Infantry Division and 8th Theater Support Command.

He most recently served as the chief of staff of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.

Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, chief of engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, hosted the ceremony and expressed his confidence in Milhorns' leadership.

"Jeff (Milhorn) is an officer with diverse experiences across a very broad range of areas of our Army, and perfectly suited for command of the Pacific Ocean Division," Bostick said.

Bostick then thanked Stevens' for his focused and insightful leadership.

"Rick (Stevens) is a stellar Army leader whose actions have had and will continue to have a long-term beneficial impact to our national image, relationships, and security," said Bostick. "He has been a champion of emphasizing: trusted engineering, service excellence, measurable performance, and workforce fulfillment."

Stevens expertly directed a full range of engineering capabilities throughout the U.S. Pacific Command's area of responsibility.

During his tenure, the division completed construction of 35 U.S. military construction projects worth more than $850 million throughout Alaska, Hawaii, and the Asia-Pacific Region.

In the face of enormous natural, political and fiscal challenges, Stevens directed the two largest host-nation military construction projects in the history of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers valued at more than $17.7 billion.

Stevens emphasized the Corps' growing execution of the U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Army Pacific's theater security cooperation initiatives.

"Through an extensive engagement strategy, Rick (Stevens) supported 140 Theater Security Cooperation activities in 17 countries, provided guidance and support on over 230 humanitarian assistance projects, and numerous disaster response and management exercises and exchanges," said Bostick.

Bostick credited Stevens' leadership as the enabler to staff, train, and equip Field Force Engineering capability as well as emergency technical response support for military and civil contingency operations.

During his assignment as Pacific Ocean Division Commander, Stevens deployed into Afghanistan to serve as the Director of the Joint Engineering Directorate for 10 months.

For his exceptional service from June 2011 to July 2014, Stevens received the Distinguished Service Medal.

Stevens will remain with the Army Corps team, as the Deputy Commanding General of Military and International Operations at USACE Headquarters in Washington, D.C.