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Lt. Col. Thomas D. Patton

Deputy Commander

Published Oct. 23, 2012
Lt. Col. Thomas D. Patton assumed the duties of Deputy Commander for the Memphis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on July 10, 2012. His most recent assignment was at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., where he served as the Executive Officer for the Mission Command Training Program.

As the Memphis District Deputy Commander he 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, encompassing a 25,000 square mile area in parts of six states – Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi.


Lt. Col. Patton graduated from Texas A&M University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and was commissioned as an Engineer Officer. Upon graduating from the Engineer Officer Basic Course, he was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas, and assigned to the 17th Engineer Battalion where he served as a platoon leader, company executive officer, and staff officer.

After completing the Engineer Officer Advance Course and earning a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri (Rolla), he was assigned as the Assistant Brigade Engineer to the 2nd Engineer Battalion at Camp Casey, Korea. He then was assigned to Fort Carson, Colo., where he commanded A Company, 4th Engineer Battalion.

After his time in command, Lt. Col. Patton served as an Observer Controller at the National Training Center at Ft Irwin, Calif., preparing units for future deployments in support of the Global War on Terror. After completion of the Army Command and Staff College, Lt. Col. Patton was assigned to 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division where he deployed twice to Baghdad, Iraq. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal (5th Award), Army Commendation Medal (5th Award), Army Achievement Medal (5th Award), Meritorious Unit Citation (2nd Award), Army Superior Unit Award, and the Parachutist Badge.