WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The public is invited to attend the Walla Walla District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, change-of-command ceremony set for 10 a.m. on Friday, July 11, at the Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center.
Lt. Col. Timothy R. Vail will assume command of the District from departing Commander Lt. Col. Andrew D. Kelly, who commanded the Walla Walla District for two years and is rotating to an assignment in the Office of the Chief of Engineers at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
The Walla Walla District, established in 1948, encompasses more than 107,000 square miles in parts of six states – Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada and Utah. It is a multi-faceted District responsible for providing hydropower, environmental stewardship, flood risk management and recreation opportunities, and for maintaining a navigation channel in the Snake and Columbia rivers.
Brig. Gen. John S. Kem, commander of the Corps’ Northwestern Division, will preside over the ceremony. He is responsible for five districts and their work across an area that includes all or parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota.
The July 11 ceremony will include the 312th U.S. Army Band and a ceremonial color guard from the cadet unit of the Junior ROTC at Walla Walla High School [UPDATED] 864th Engineer Battalion, Fort Lewis, Wash.
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