by LaDonna Davis, Southwestern Division Public Affairs
Col. David C. Hill took command of the Southwestern Division today in a ceremony officiated by Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“I am particularly excited to pursue opportunities and tackle challenges for the Region with the talented civilian and military members of the Southwestern Division and our great Districts in Tulsa, Little Rock, Fort Worth and Galveston,” said Hill. “The Army Corps of Engineers truly works hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder with National, state and local officials and community leaders who make America work, who make things happen, at every level. I am incredibly excited, honored and humbled to join that partnership here in the Southwestern Region.”
Hill has been nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate for the rank of brigadier general. He will pin on the rank of brigadier general in August.
Hill assumed command from Col. Richard J. Muraski, Jr., who has been the acting SWD commander since April 2014.
Bostick praised Muraski's tenure, saying "it takes a special person to take command and lead such an organization, whether for several years or for several months. Col. Richard J. Muraski took on that challenge, and executed it extremely well for four months.”
Hill comes to SWD from the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. where he served as the director of the Office of the Chief of Engineers. He received his commission from the United States Military Academy in 1990, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri-Rolla and a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College.
As the SWD Commander and Division Engineer, Hill will oversee hundreds of water resources development and military design and construction projects.
The Southwestern Division, which is headquartered in Dallas, is one of nine Corps of Engineers regional commands. With four District Offices in Little Rock, Ark., Tulsa, Okla., and Galveston and Fort Worth, Texas, it encompasses all or part of seven states, and covers some 2.3 million acres of public land and water with an annual program totaling nearly $2.6 billion.