JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (June 25, 2012) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District, will hold a change of command ceremony at the Jacksonville Public Library, 303 N. Laura St., Thursday, June 28 at 10 a.m. Col. Alfred A. Pantano, Jr., who has commanded the Jacksonville District since 2009, will relinquish command to Col. Alan M. Dodd.
The ceremony is not open to the public.
Pantano is leaving the Jacksonville District to assume command of Afghanistan District - North, Trans-Atlantic Division, USACE. His three-year assignment in Jacksonville was highlighted by the management of critical flood mitigation projects across Florida and the Antilles, including construction of the Portugues Dam in Puerto Rico and the extensive Herbert Hoover Dike rehabilitation now ongoing on Lake Okeechobee. He also led efforts concerning controversial issues such as Regulatory Division wetlands rulings, management of Lake Okeechobee and Everglades restoration. Under his direction, the district maintained 17 deep water ports in Florida and Puerto Rico, protected the nation’s second-longest shoreline with beach renourishment projects and assisted the Corps’ effort in Overseas Contingency Operations. He also directed the investigations into a number of Formerly Used Defense sites (now residential areas) where World War II munitions were discovered.
Dodd most recently graduated from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa. Prior to that assignment, he was commander of the 27th Engineer Battalion at Fort Bragg, N.C., where he led the battalion during combat operations while deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. Previous assignments include Command Engineer, Joint Special Operations Command, also at Fort Bragg; Branch Chief, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.
Dodd, a 29-year Soldier, has served in a myriad of staff positions as a field grade officer in locations ranging from Fort Bragg to Yokosuka, Japan.
A native of Worcester, Mass., Dodd graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and has a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.
As Jacksonville District commander, Dodd will assume responsibility for the federal development of water resources in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Jacksonville District’s annual program exceeds $400 million.