Colonel Chad W. Caldwell assumed command of the Sacramento District, South Pacific Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on June 23rd, 2022.
Colonel Caldwell was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1999 upon graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. He holds master’s degrees in Structural Engineering from Stanford University, Engineering Management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, and National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Missouri.
Colonel Caldwell has served in a wide variety of operational staff and leadership positions throughout his Army career. He was first assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where he served as a platoon leader, company executive officer, and in numerous battalion staff positions. As a captain, he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, where he served in the division’s engineer section, on the 1-66 Armor Battalion Staff, and as the Company Commander of E Company, 1-66 Armor Battalion. While in company command, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a major, he once again served in the 4th Infantry Division, now at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) as a combat advisor and then as the 4th Brigade Combat Team’s Future Operations Officer. While at Fort Carson, he also served as the Operations Officer for the 4th Engineer Battalion, again deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and then moved into the Executive Officer role upon redeployment. As a lieutenant colonel, he commanded the 62nd Engineer Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas, and was the first commander of the 5th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 4th Security Forces Assistance Brigade at Fort Carson, Colorado.
Colonel Caldwell has also served in numerous broadening assignments throughout his career. These include as an assistant professor in the Civil and Mechanical Engineer Department at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. The Army SHARP Program Executive Officer, Deputy Chief of Staff G-1, Department of the Army Headquarters, in Washington D.C., and as the Planner and Outreach Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army while in the Pentagon. Finally, he was the Strategic Planner to the Chief of Engineers in the United States Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters, Washington D.C.
Colonel Caldwell is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval War College and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and a graduate of the Army Engineer Captain’s Career Course and Army Engineer Officer Basic Course.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Ranger Tab, and Army Staff Identification Badge.