Today, Col. John W. Henderson accepted the flag for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District as the new District Commander.
Brig. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, Northwestern Division Commander conducted a change of command ceremony at the Double Tree Hotel Grand Ballroom in downtown Omaha, recognizing the arrival of the new commander.
Henderson comes to Omaha from serving as the U.S. Army War College Fellow to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Security Studies Program. Prior to that, he served as Executive Officer to the Commanding General for the U. S. Army’s 1st Corps located at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington. Henderson is a native of South Dakota and a graduate of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a master’s degree in Civil Engineering. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in May 1994.
In his speech, Henderson said he is committed to continuing the role of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to accomplish its authorized missions with “world class quality, transparency, and stewardship to our Nation.”
Henderson will lead the Omaha District team of about 1,300 professional U.S. Army Civilians and military service members across all or part of 10 states. The Omaha District’s Civil Works program provides water resource planning and construction services as well as provides maintenance and operations for congressionally-authorized purposes at the six Missouri River main stem dams and 21 tributary dams within a 700,000-square-mile boundary encompassing nearly one-fourth of the contiguous United States.
Henderson said, “We will continue to foster strong relationships with our project partners, stakeholders and the larger Northwestern Division and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers team.”
The Omaha District also manages the design and construction of facilities for the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, International U.S. Government agencies; coordinates the cleanup of hazardous, toxic and radioactive waste sites for the Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency; and provides regulatory and real estate services.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is among Omaha’s largest employers with more than 850 employees hired locally. As District Commander, Henderson will oversee an annual program budget of more than $1 billion with more than 1,200 military construction projects in eight states, civil works projects in nine states, and environmental restoration projects in 41 states.
Henderson accepted command from Col. Joel R. Cross who is retiring from the U.S. Army after 25 years of dedicated service.