New Orleans – Col. Edward Fleming became the 61st district engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, today in a formal military change of command ceremony.
Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh, division engineer for the Mississippi Valley Division and president of the Mississippi River Commission, placed the Corps of Engineers flag, symbolizing command of the New Orleans District, into Fleming’s hands.
“South Louisiana is vital to our nation’s economy and the Corps plays a pivotal role,” said Fleming. “I am proud to be chosen to be a part of this and to lead such an amazing team.”
A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, Fleming was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1989 upon graduation from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering Management. In 1998, Flem¬ing graduated from the University of Maryland at College Park and earned a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic and Engineer Officer Advanced Courses, and the Command and General Staff Officers Course at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Fleming recently earned a masters degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the National War College.
Prior to that assign¬ment, he was the executive officer for the com¬manding general, US Army Corps of Engineers.
Fleming has served in numerous command and staff assignments marked by combat and peacekeeping deployments. In December 1990, he deployed to Iraq as a platoon leader in the 1st Infantry Division during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, where he was decorated for valor. In 2003, he deployed on a peacekeeping mission to Kosovo, serving as the operations officer for the 82nd Engineer Battalion in support of Operation Joint Guardian. In January 2004, Fleming deployed to Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom as a brigade operations officer in the 1st Infantry Division.
Other command and staff assignments include: commander, Charleston District, USACE; project manager then deputy district engineer in the Baltimore District, USACE; com¬pany commander at Ft. Riley, Kan.; company commander at the National Training Center, Ft. Irwin, Calif.; platoon leader in Korea; and engineer staff officer positions in Heidelberg, Germany and Washington, D.C.
Fleming’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with V device and three oak leaf clusters, and the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters. Colonel Fleming has also been awarded the Bronze Order of the de Fleury medal and the Order of St. George.