New leadership at the Sacramento District

Published July 11, 2019
Col. James Handura accepts command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District during a July 11, 2019, ceremony at the Masonic Temple in downtown Sacramento, Calif. Brig. Gen. Kim Colloton, South Pacific Division commander, presided over the ceremony where Handura became the district’s 33rd commander in its 90-year history.

Col. James Handura accepts command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District during a July 11, 2019, ceremony at the Masonic Temple in downtown Sacramento, Calif. Brig. Gen. Kim Colloton, South Pacific Division commander, presided over the ceremony where Handura became the district’s 33rd commander in its 90-year history. Handura has been a military engineer for 30 years, beginning his Army career as an enlisted combat engineer in 1989. He now commands the nearly 1,100-person strong Sacramento District, which stretches from southern California to western Colorado, and includes three of USACE’s five largest U.S. projects. (U.S. Army photo by Ken Wright/Released)

Col. David Ray relinquished command to Col. James Handura during the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District's change of command ceremony on Thursday, July 11, 2019. The ceremony took place at the Masonic Temple in downtown Sacramento, California, where Handura became the district’s 33rd commander in its 90-year history.

Col. David Ray relinquished command to Col. James Handura during the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District's change of command ceremony on Thursday, July 11, 2019. The ceremony took place at the Masonic Temple in downtown Sacramento, California, where Handura became the district’s 33rd commander in its 90-year history.

Col. David Ray, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District commander, is awarded the Silver Order of the de Fleury Medal from Brig. Gen. Kim Colloton, South Pacific Division commander, prior to Ray relinquishing command and retiring on July 11, 2019, in downtown Sacramento, Calif.

Col. David Ray, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District commander, is awarded the Silver Order of the de Fleury Medal from Brig. Gen. Kim Colloton, South Pacific Division commander, prior to Ray relinquishing command and retiring on July 11, 2019, in downtown Sacramento, Calif. The uncommon medal was awarded to Ray by the Army Engineer Association for the positive impact Ray made on the Army, USACE and the nation throughout his career. For the past three years, Ray commanded the nearly 1,100-person district, which stretches from southern California to western Colorado, and includes three of USACE’s five largest U.S. projects. In addition to his final assignment, Ray’s 28-year Army career included combat deployments and worldwide assignments as an engineer platoon leader, a battalion operations and executive officer, and battalion commander. (U.S. Army photo by Ken Wright/Released)

Col. James Handura, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District commander, speaks to more than 400 district employees, Soldiers and guests during a July 11, 2019, change of command ceremony at the Masonic Temple in downtown Sacramento, Calif. 
Brig. Gen. Kim Colloton, South Pacific Division commander, presided over the ceremony where Handura became the district’s 33rd commander in its 90-year history.

Col. James Handura, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District commander, speaks to more than 400 district employees, Soldiers and guests during a July 11, 2019, change of command ceremony at the Masonic Temple in downtown Sacramento, Calif. Brig. Gen. Kim Colloton, South Pacific Division commander, presided over the ceremony where Handura became the district’s 33rd commander in its 90-year history. Handura has been a military engineer for 30 years, beginning his Army career as an enlisted combat engineer in 1989. He now commands the nearly 1,100-person strong Sacramento District, which stretches from southern California to western Colorado, and includes three of USACE’s five largest U.S. projects. (U.S. Army photo by Ken Wright/Released)

Brig. Gen. Kim Colloton, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division commander, speaks to an audience of more than 400 USACE employees about the remarkable 28-year Army career of outgoing Sacramento District commander, Col. David Ray, during the district’s July 11, 2019, change of command ceremony in downtown Sacramento, Calif.

Brig. Gen. Kim Colloton, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division commander, speaks to an audience of more than 400 USACE employees about the remarkable 28-year Army career of outgoing Sacramento District commander, Col. David Ray, during the district’s July 11, 2019, change of command ceremony in downtown Sacramento, Calif. Col. James Handura, accepted command of the district from Colloton during the ceremony. Handura has been a military engineer for 30 years, beginning his Army career as an enlisted combat engineer in 1989. He now commands the nearly 1,100-person strong Sacramento District, which stretches from southern California to western Colorado, and includes three of USACE’s five largest U.S. projects. (U.S. Army photo by Ken Wright/Released)

SACRAMENTO, California – Col. James J. Handura assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Sacramento District from Col. David G. Ray during a Change of Command ceremony today at the Masonic Temple
in downtown Sacramento.

Brig. Gen. Kim M. Colloton, commander of the Corps’ South Pacific Division, presided over the ceremony introducing
the district’s 33rd commander.

“We are especially thankful for the families of these professionals, and all that they represent. They are the
foundation and support of the castles for Col. Ray and Col. Handura,” said Colloton, referring to the castle insignia
worn by Army engineers on their uniform.

Handura, a native of Clearwater, Florida, takes command after graduating from the U.S. Army War College. He has
been a military engineer for 30 years, beginning his time in the Army as an enlisted combat engineer in 1989.
Handura has experience leading Corps of Engineers teams, previously serving as the Deputy District Engineer in
New Orleans, Louisiana.

“I look forward to picking up where [Col.] Dave Ray left off,” said Handura. “To the members of the Sacramento
District team: I’m honored and humbled to be your commander, and I look forward to working alongside you in the
coming months.”

For Ray, this ceremony signifies not only the end of his command at the Sacramento District, but also the end of a
successful Army career. This is Ray’s last assignment; he will be retiring after 28 years of service to his country.

Ray received his U.S. Army commission in 1992 and was designated a 12A Engineer Officer. In previous
assignments, he has served as the engineer platoon leader, 2nd Engineer Battalion, Republic of Korea; battalion
operations & executive officer, 9th Engineer Battalion, Schweinfurt, Germany; and commander, 19th Engineer
Battalion, Fort Knox, Kentucky;

Ray plans to retire to Colorado, where he looks forward to spending time fishing and skiing.

“Being part of the Army Corps of Engineers is something all young engineers aspire to,” said Ray. “Doing it in a part
of the country that I consider my home makes it that much more special.”

This transition comes at a busy time for the Sacramento District, one of the largest districts in all of USACE. The
Sacramento District received $2.1 billion last year to fully fund five construction projects, and oversees three of the
largest USACE projects in the nation. The Sacramento District operates in part of eight western states, and is
responsible for military design and construction, civil works, international and interagency support, real estate
services to the Army and Air Force, regulatory work, environmental services, and emergency management.


Contact
Public Affairs Office
916-557-5100
spk-pao@usace.army.mil

Release no. 19-010