MOBILE, Ala. – COL James A. DeLapp assumed command as the 52nd District Engineer in the history of the Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in a ceremony today at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview. COL DeLapp succeeds COL Jon J. Chytka, who has been the Commander and District Engineer since Aug. 1, 2013.
Prior to assuming command of the Mobile District, COL DeLapp attended the Army War College, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Security Studies. Prior to that assignment, he served as Chief, Plans Branch, J4 Engineer Division, United States Central Command. He also served as the 62nd Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District.
A native of Illinois, COL DeLapp received his commission in the U.S. Army 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.
His operational 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 with a deployment to Bosnia and Croatia in support of Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR and JOINT GUARD; Operations Officer for the 18th Airborne Corps Staff Engineer Section, Fort Bragg, NC; Commander of Bravo Company, 37th Engineer Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC with a deployment to Kosovo in support of Operation JOINT GUARDIAN; and Operations and Executive Officer of the 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), Fort Lewis, WA with a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
His additional assignments include Area Commander and later Deputy District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District with a deployment to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM; Congressional Fellow to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton – New York and Senator Mark Begich – Alaska; Legislative Liaison to the Army G-3; and Legislative Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army, General George W. Casey, Jr.
COL DeLapp’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star (One Oak Leaf Cluster); Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster); Meritorious Service Medal (Two Oak Leaf Clusters); Army Commendation Medal (Three Oak Leaf Clusters); Army Achievement Medal (Two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Tennessee National Guard Commendation Ribbon; the Joint Meritorious Unit Citation; Meritorious Unit Citation (One Oak Leaf Cluster) 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 also was recognized and awarded with the Bronze de Fleury Medal from the Army Engineer Association.
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