CHICAGO – Lt. Col. David K. Dawes assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, from Col. Kenneth P. Rockwell during a time-honored change of command ceremony at the Union League Club in Chicago on July 1, 2026.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Herlihy, commander of the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, officiated the ceremony, which symbolized the passing of the district’s colors and authority from the outgoing to the incoming commander.

As the new commander and district engineer, Lt. Col. Dawes is now responsible for water resources development across a 31,500-square-mile area that includes the Chicago metropolitan area, the upper Illinois River and Wabash River watersheds, and the Lake Michigan watershed in Wisconsin. The district’s vital engineering services include flood and coastal storm risk management, navigation, aquatic ecosystem restoration, regulatory programs, and emergency management.

Throughout his 23-year career, Lt. Col. Dawes has served in numerous leadership positions, from the platoon level to a strategic role at the Pentagon. He has deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Psychology from the United States Military Academy and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota.

The change of command ceremony is a tradition dating back before the Civil War that emphasizes the continuity of command and unit identity. In transferring the flag, the outgoing commander, Col. Rockwell, released his authority over the district, and Lt. Col. Dawes accepted all responsibility for its projects, programs, and people.

For 250 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been at the forefront of the nation’s engineering excellence, responding when called. From constructing fortifications during the Revolutionary War to building the infrastructure that saw America’s strength grow militarily and economically, USACE’s mission has always been to deliver engineering solutions for the nation’s toughest challenges. Today, USACE continues to lead the way by building infrastructure, not paperwork.