Today the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District welcomed its new commander, Col. Jason Evers, in a ceremony at the Huntington City Hall Auditorium. The ceremony was presided over by Maj. Gen. Mark Toy, Commanding General of the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division.
Col. Evers is now responsible for carrying out the District’s mission within the Ohio River Basin, which includes more than 300 navigable miles of the Ohio River in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, plus nine major tributaries. This area encompasses 45,000 square miles in five states – West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and North Carolina. His staff of more than 950 employees supports the District’s mission to operate and maintain 35 multi-purpose reservoirs and 9 locks and dams, providing flood damage reduction, commercial navigation, recreation, and water supply while protecting the environment. The District is involved in significant planning, design, and construction efforts that address replacement of outdated navigation structures on the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, dam safety measures at operating projects in central Ohio and southern West Virginia, other significant water resource challenges, as well as emergency management. His staff performs the Corps’ regulatory mission in West Virginia and Ohio.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Engineer Regiment after graduating as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Gonzaga University in 1995. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington. He is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Washington and a certified Project Management Professional.
Col. Evers held a variety of troop assignments, primarily in divisional mechanized combat engineer battalions. He served as a lieutenant in the 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, TX; he commanded B Company, 16th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division in Giessen, Germany. He also served as an advisor with the 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division out of Ft. Stewart, GA. His most recent command assignment was as the Commander of the Yakima Training Center, Joint Base Lewis McChord.
His combat and operational experience includes two deployments for OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM with the Transatlantic Afghanistan District, USACE, two deployments for OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM supporting the 3rd Infantry and 1st Armored Divisions and OPERATION DESERT STRIKE in Kuwait with the 1st Cavalry Division.
Col. Evers also served as an Assistant Professor, Department of Civil & Mechanical Engineering, United States Military Academy, Deputy Commander for the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Deputy Commander for the Transatlantic Afghanistan District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Col. Evers’ military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic Course, the Armor Officer Advanced Course, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense and Army Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab and the Sapper Tab.
He is a native of Spokane, Washington.