News Releases

Col. Asbery takes command of New York Engineer District

Published June 8, 2017

NEW YORK – Colonel Thomas D. Asbery assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, during a formal change of command ceremony on June 8, 2017. Colonel David A. Caldwell, who has commanded the district since June 2015, relinquished command at a ceremony held at Castle Williams on Governor’s Island.

Colonel Asbery was commissioned in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in May 1994, after graduating from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture. Additionally, he holds a Master of Science in Architecture - Construction Management degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.

Colonel Asbery’s previous assignments include serving as the Army Corps’ Transatlantic Division Operational Command Post Officer-in-Charge as part of Operation Inherent Resolve; Deputy Division Commander for the Army Corps’ Pacific Ocean Division;  and Commander of the Army Corps’ Honolulu District.  

From June 1995 to March 1997 he served in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky., in the 326th Engineer Battalion “Sapper Eagles” as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Battalion Adjutant.

From November 1998 to August 2001 he served in the 3rd Brigade Combat Team “Sledge Hammer”, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) as the Battalion S-4 and Company Commander of Bravo Company “Bulldogs”, 317th Engineer Battalion at Fort Benning, Ga.

From January 2003 to July 2005 he served an overseas utilization tour in the Army Corps’ Europe District, at Incirlik, Air Force Base, Turkey as a project engineer, resident engineer and area engineer.

From July 2005 to July 2006 Col. Asbery served at Ramstein, Air Force Base, Germany, and served as the U.S Air Force Europe, Army Corps Program Manager.  While assigned to the Army Corps’ Europe District, he deployed twice in 2003 and 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Forward Engineer Support Team Operations Officer and Team Leader. He deployed a third time to the Mississippi Coast in support of Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts in 2005 as a Forward Engineer Support Team Leader.

After graduating from the Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Ks., Colonel Asbery returned to Europe as the Battalion S-3 of the 54th Engineer Battalion “Daggers In”, 18th Engineer Brigade, Bamberg, Germany from June 2007 to August 2009.

While serving as the Battalion S-3, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-10 under the 20th Engineer Brigade “Airborne” supporting the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Stryker, Iraq from May 2008 to July 2009.

Upon redeployment from Iraq, Colonel Asbery was assigned to Engineer Branch, Operations Division, Human Resources Command as the Engineer Majors and Lieutenant Colonels assignment officer. He later served as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General, Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Ky.

Colonel Asbery is a graduate of the United States Army War College, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Sapper Leader Course and the U.S. Army Ranger School.

Colonel Asbery’s military awards and decorations include the Airborne and Air-Assault Badges; the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Achievement and Commendation Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Action Badge, and the Engineer Regiment’s Bronze Order of the DeFleury Medal. Unit awards include the Army Superior Unit Award and the Meritorious Unit Citation.

Colonel Caldwell came to New York District in June 2015 after completing Advanced Military Education at the United States Army War College. A 1992 graduate of Wheaton College, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology. He’s also earned two master’s degrees— one in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College and another in Management (with a Project Management emphasis) from Thomas Edison State College. Colonel Caldwell will be heading to Afghanistan to lead the Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan Engineer Kabul Afghanistan.

As commander of New York District, Colonel Caldwell led a staff of more than 500 military and civilian personnel in executing a complex and diverse program including military construction, civil works projects and Environmental Interagency and International Services—a multi-billion dollar program.

 

New York District is responsible for the Corps’ water resources development, navigation and regulatory activities in northeastern New Jersey, eastern and south-central New York State, and parts of Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The district is also responsible for design and construction at Army and Air Force installations in New Jersey, New York, and Greenland. The District also provides support following disasters and for the Global War on Terror.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Contact
Kenneth Wells
917-790-8007
Kenneth.Wells@usace.army.mil

Release no. 17-008