Col. Rock Donahue accepted Command of the South Pacific Division from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chief Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp during a ceremony at the Bay Model in Sausalito, Calif., July 21, 2009. Col. Donahue assumed command from Col. Janice Lembke Dombi, who is resuming duties as the Deputy Division Commander.

New SPD Commander Col. Rock Donahue accepts Command from Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, as the previous commander Col. Janice Dombi and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Buxbaum look on, during a ceremony at the Bay Model in Sausalito, CA Tuesday. Col. Donahue is the 49th Commander of the South Pacific Division. Photo - Mike Nevins; US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District

Col. Donahue previously served as XVIII Airborne Corps Engineer and as Director of the Multi-National Corps Iraq C-7. He brings with him knowledge gained from over 26 years of Army service. After accepting the Corps of Engineers flag symbolizing the change of command, Col. Donahue shared his thoughts about the direction of SPD and the work ahead.

“We will ‘Build Strong’ on the ‘Cornerstone of the Southwest’ through inspired leadership, an enriched culture of discipline and innovation, and superior performance,” he said.

Col. Donahue emphasized a values-based vision shaped by a TEAM philosophy focused on ‘Teamwork’, ‘Execution’, ‘Attitude’, and ‘Mission’. “We will effectively implement the USACE campaign plan goals, execute our regional programs, support Overseas Contingency Operations, and develop our professional workforce to remain Relevant, Ready, Reliable, and Responsive when our nation calls,” he said.

Col. Donahue is no stranger to California. “I started my career at Fort Ord back in 1983 with the 13th Engineer Battalion,” he said. “So, in many ways, it feels as if my family and I are returning home. I’m privileged and humbled to accept this command. I look forward to serving with our many congressional members, cost-sharing partners, architect-engineers and construction contractors, and all the members of our great Corps team, as we endeavor to support our national priorities.”

Lt. Gen. Van Antwerp said Col. Donahue takes command at a time when the nation is asking more of the Corps of Engineers than at any time in history.

“Back in the 1990’s, a typical workload year for the Corps of Engineers was $12 to $13 billion,” he said. “This year it is over $40 billion--including $9 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus dollars. This creates job and enables the Corps to repair and improve critical infrastructure that was built during the Hoover, Roosevelt and Eisenhower eras.

“We are in the midst of the largest infrastructure investment this country has seen since the New Deal and Col. Donahue will oversee the Corps program in one of the largest and fastest growing regions in the country,” Lt. Gen. Van Antwerp said.

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