DALLAS – Paul E. Owen, Commander of the Southwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in a ceremony here today. Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, officiated at the ceremony.
“Generals are not selected for what they have already accomplished, but rather for what our nation needs them to do in the future—and what the Army expects them to do,” Semonite said. “Leadership is in demand now more than ever. This promotion shows Paul Owen’s potential to serve our nation, our soldiers, and our civilians.”
Owen, who oversees the Southwestern Division, one of nine Corps of Engineers major subordinate commands, said “The path I’ve been on with the Army since 1990 has taken a new direction. My aspiration is to be worthy of the challenges that come with my entry into the General officer ranks.”
Owen took command of the Southwestern Division on June 29, coming to the Division from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters in Washington, D.C. where he served as the Chief of Staff. He received his commission from the United States Military Academy in 1990, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He holds a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Missouri University of Science and Technology, and a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
With four District Offices in Little Rock, Arkansas, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Galveston and Fort Worth, Texas, SWD encompasses all or part of seven states, and covers some 2.3 million acres of public land and water. As the SWD Commander and Division Engineer, Owen oversees hundreds of water resources development and military design and construction projects. The Division also supports emergency response and recovery efforts when hurricanes or other natural disasters occur, whether within or beyond its area of responsibility.
Release no. 18-001