Lt. Col. Rhett A. Blackmon assumed the duties of Deputy Commander for the Memphis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on July 13, 2015. As the Memphis District Deputy Commander he coordinates the organization’s staff and assists the commander with administrative programs. The District is responsible for flood risk management, navigation, environmental stewardship, emergency operations, other authorized civil works, and work for others along 610 miles of the Mississippi and White Rivers. The footprint encompasses a 25,000 square mile area in parts of six states; Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi.
Lt. Col. Blackmon graduated from The Citadel in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and was commissioned as an Engineer Officer. Upon completion of the Engineer Officer Basic Course, Airborne School, and Ranger School, he was assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington, where he served as a Combat Engineer Platoon Leader and Light Equipment Platoon Leader in Alpha Company, 65th Engineer Battalion.
Following completion of the Infantry Captain’s Career Course, he was assigned as the Personnel Officer in the 44th Engineer Battalion at Camp Howze, Korea. Lieutenant Colonel Blackmon assumed command of Bravo Company in Korea, and then deployed to the company to Ar Ramadi, Iraq in 2004. Following service in Iraq, the unit was re-stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.
Lt. Col. Blackmon next completed his Masters of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Southern California. As a follow on assignment, he served on the faculty in the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Department at West Point, teaching Mechanics of Materials and Soil Mechanics.
Lt. Col. Blackmon’s most recent assignment was at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served in the 82nd Airborne Division as a Division Engineer staff officer and a Battalion Operations Officer. He also served in the 20th Engineer Brigade as a Battalion Operations Officer and as the Brigade Executive Officer.
Lt. Col. Blackmon’s awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal. His decorations include the Ranger and Sapper Tabs, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist’s Badge, and Air Assault Badge. Lieutenant Colonel Blackmon is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of California.