LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- During a July 7 ceremony at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center in downtown Little Rock, Col. Robert G. Dixon assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District.
He replaces Col. Courtney W. Paul, who is retiring after 29 years in the U.S. Army.
Little Rock District is responsible for a $500 million program annually. This includes civil works, military construction, Army and Air Force Medical Service support, environmental stewardship, emergency management and support to other government agencies throughout Arkansas, southern Missouri, across the nation and around the world.
The district has a staff of about 715 employees. It is responsible for maintaining the Arkansas River and other waterways, including 13 locks and dams, 12 multi-purpose lakes, seven hydroelectric power plants, and more than a half million acres of public lands and water.
Dixon came to Little Rock District from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, where he was the I Corps Engineer.
Dixon was commissioned in the Army Corps of Engineers in 1993 through the ROTC program at Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. He also holds Master’s degrees from American Public University in Management, from the School of Advanced Military Studies in Military Art and Science, and from the Army War College in Strategic Studies.
Dixon was deployed to Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq in support of operational and combat missions.
His military awards and decorations include Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
More information about the Corps’ Little Rock District can be found on the Internet at www.swl.usace.army.mil, Facebook at www.facebook.com/littlerockusace, and Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/usacelittlerock.