MOBILE, Ala – Colonel Jon J. Chytka assumes command as the 51st District Engineer in the history of the Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in a ceremony Aug. 1, 2013 at the Alabama Cruise Terminal. Chytka succeeds Colonel Steven J. Roemhildt, who has been the commander and district engineer since May 26, 2010.
COL Chytka is arriving at Mobile District from the Naval War College, where he graduated this summer of 2013 earning a Master’s Degree in Security Studies. Prior to that assignment, he served as the Deputy Commander of the 130th Engineer Brigade at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Prior to his tour with the 130th, he served as the Deputy Commander of the Afghanistan Engineer District (AED) responsible for construction of the facilities for Afghan National Security Forces (Army and Police) as well as others. Prior to the deployment, COL Chytka served as the Commander of the Honolulu District, US Army Corps of Engineers.
A native of South Dakota, COL Chytka earned a Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy and a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri at Rolla. He is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced courses at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
His operational assignments include serving with the 1st Engineer Battalion at Ft Riley, KS; the 44th Engineer Battalion at Camp Howze, Korea; Company Command of the 82nd Engineer Company, Camp Edwards, Korea; and as a US Exchange Officer with the Australian 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment. COL Chytka served as 1st Armored Division's Assistant Division Engineer in Germany. He also deployed as the Executive Officer of the 40th Engineer Battalion during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005-2007. He also served as the Assistant Professor of Military Science at Georgetown University.
Colonel Chytka wears the Bronze Star, 6 Meritorious Service Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Meda , the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Air Assault Badge, Airborne Badge, Ranger Tab and the Bronze Order of the DeFleury Medal.