The U.S. Army Engineer School and Regiment has a new commandant after a ceremony Tuesday in Nutter Field House.
Maj. Gen. Leslie Smith, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, presided over the ceremony where Brig. Gen. Duke DeLuca transferred command responsibilities for the regiment to Brig. Gen. Anthony Funkhouser.
"Duke, you are an outstanding leader," Smith said. "You set a tone -- a tune, that everybody could sing to. To have everybody moving in the same direction is an outstanding feat."
DeLuca will move on to Vicksburg, Miss., as U.S. Army Engineer Division, Mississippi Valley, commanding general.
"Being a part of this team for two years has been an honor, a privilege and a delight," DeLuca said.
"I'm still on the team, and I'm happy to assist however you tend, Tony," DeLuca said to Funkhouser.
Smith spoke fondly about past times he has served with Funkhouser while both were assigned to Fort Leonard Wood and Smith welcomed him back to the installation.
Funkhouser returns to Fort Leonard Wood from Portland, Ore., where he most recently served as U.S. Army Engineer Division, Northwestern, commanding general.
Funkhouser has also served as Joint Capabilities Division (J-8) Division chief, Afghanistan Engineer District-South commander, Southwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commander, Corps' Tulsa District office commander, and U.S. Army Engineer School Chief of Staff.
"This is definitely a privilege and an honor. A lot of great people have been here before me," Funkhouser said. "I look forward to standing on the shoulders of the great commandants before me.
Funkhouser earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the U.S. Military Academy and holds a master's degree in engineering management from the University of Missouri-Rolla and a master's of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. His military education includes the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Advanced Military Studies Program and the U.S. Army War College.
This is Funkhouser's third assignment on Fort Leonard Wood. He has served on post as a 169th Engineer Battalion small group instructor, 5th Engineer Battalion commander, and as U.S. Army Engineer School chief of doctrine and chief of staff.
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