Col. Donovan D. Ollar is the deputy commander of the Southwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Dallas, Texas, a position he has held since July 2015. Prior to this assignment, he was Sidewinder 07, the Senior Engineer Trainer, National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif.
A native of Colorado Springs, Colo., Ollar is a 1993 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri at Rolla and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Missouri.
Ollar has served in a variety of command and staff positions in both the United States and overseas. Among them have been the
Commander, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th BCT, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. Prior to taking command, he served as the Battalion Executive Officer and Operations Officer for the 84th Engineer Battalion and Maneuver Planner with the 25th Infantry Division, both at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He also served as a Project Engineer with the Far East District, Korea; and Engineer Captain’s Career Course Small Group Instructor and Aide de Camp to the Commanding General of the Maneuver Support Center, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He commanded both Charlie Company 35th Engineer Battalion and Echo Company 169th Engineer Battalion. Prior to taking command, he served as Project Manager for the Maneuver Support Center Battle Lab.
As a lieutenant, Ollar served as the Task Force Engineer for the 1/509th (OPFOR), Battalion Civil Engineer, Company Executive Officer, and Platoon Leader for the 46th Engineer Battalion, Fort Polk, La.
His overseas deployments have included Uphold Democracy in Haiti (1995-96), Operation Enduring Freedom in the Philippines in 2004 and in Afghanistan in 2004-2005 and 2012-2013. He also deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006-2007 and 2009-2010.
Ollar’s military awards and decorations include four Bronze Star Medals, five Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star), the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Medal, the NATO Medal, and the Armed Forces Service Medal. He has also earned the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutists Badge and Air Assault Badge.