Col. Larsen takes command of the North Atlantic Division

By Mr Justin Matthew Ward (USACE)September 9, 2011

110909-A-7814W-001
During a transfer of authority ceremony at U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton Sept. 9, Brig. Gen. Peter "Duke" DeLuca, outgoing commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, passes the Army Engineer flag to Col. Christ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HAMILTON, NY -- Brig. Gen. Peter "Duke" DeLuca relinquished his position as commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division to Col. Christopher Larsen during a Transfer of Authority ceremony Sept. 9 on the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, N.Y.

DeLuca will become the commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer School at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., in November, after attending the CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course at the National Defense University on Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C.

In his two and a half years at the helm of the Division, DeLuca has advanced relationships with the Division's customers and local communities, overseen a massive $7.5 billion Base Realignment and Closure program -- including the tallest building the Corps of Engineers has ever constructed and the largest DoD building constructed since the Pentagon -- and fostered a culture of action that has led the division to rank among the highest in the Corps of Engineers on performance, customer satisfaction, and safety metrics.

Most recently, DeLuca was in charge of the Corps' disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts for Tropical Storm Irene, which made landfall only about a dozen miles from the Division's headquarters in Brooklyn Aug. 28. Response efforts included the deployment of teams ready to provide critical commodities, temporary power, and technical assistance.

Larsen, previously the deputy commander of the Division, recently served in Kabul, Afghanistan, as the chief of staff for U.S. Agency for International Development. He will command the division until a permanent successor to DeLuca is selected.

In previous assignments, Larsen served with the 82nd Airborne Division as the Battalion Maintenance Officer; the Commander of A Company, 307th Engineer Battalion; the Assistant Division Engineer; and the Battalion Operations Officer. He also commanded an Army Special Operations Engineer Troop at Fort Bragg, N.C.; the 44th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, in the Republic of Korea; and served as a construction manager in the Corps of Engineers Baltimore District.

During his career, Larsen has earned numerous awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and four awards of the Meritorious Service Award. He also earned the Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist wings with bronze service star and the Air Assault Badge. Larsen is a member of the Honorary Order of Saint Barbara's and earned the Corps of Engineers Bronze de Fleury Medal.

Related Links:

DoD Base Realignment and Closure

US Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division

US Army Corps of Engineers headquarters