Biography

Col. James A. DeLapp

Commander / District Engineer

Published June 23, 2016

Colonel Jim DeLapp assumed command of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mobile District in June 2016 as the 52nd Commander.  His command includes a workforce of 1,100 personnel who provide project management, construction, and engineer support to the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee, as well as all of Central and South America. The District manages a $1 billion Military, Civil Works, and International/Inter-agency Support program that responds to disasters, manages water resource infrastructure, protects the environment, and provides facilities for our national defense and inter-agency partners. 

A native of Barrington, Illinois, Colonel DeLapp received his commission in the Corps of Engineers as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Kansas State University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Architecture Degree. He earned a Master of Science in Construction Management from Texas A&M University in 2003. He is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.

Colonel DeLapp has served in a variety of command and staff positions from Platoon to Combatant Command.  He has served in three previous USACE Districts including the Los Angeles District, Gulf Region Central District, and as the 62nd Commander of the Nashville District.  He has deployed in support of peacekeeping and combat operations to Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

His troop assignments include serving with the 41st Engineer Battalion (Light) and 642nd Engineer Company, Fort Drum, NY; Aide-de-Camp to the Assistant Division Commander 10th Mountain Division; Operations Officer for the 18th Airborne Corps Staff Engineer Section, Fort Bragg, NC; Commander of Bravo Company, 37th Engineer Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC; and Operations and Executive Officer of the 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), Fort Lewis, WA.

Additional staff assignments include Congressional Fellow to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton – New York and Senator Mark Begich – Alaska; Legislative Liaison to the Army G-3/5/7; Legislative Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army, General George W. Casey, Jr.; and Plans Branch Chief J4 Engineer Division, United States Central Command.

Colonel DeLapp’s decorations include two Bronze Star Medals; two Defense Meritorious Service Medals; three Meritorious Service Medals; four Army Commendation Medals; three Army Achievement Medals; the Joint Meritorious Unit Citation; two Meritorious Unit Citations; and the Army Superior Unit Award. He has also earned the Ranger Tab, Army Staff Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Venezuelan Parachutist Badge. He was recognized by the Army Engineer Association and awarded the Bronze de Fleury Medal.


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