Col. Aaron Reisinger assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, from Col. Christopher Drew during a Change of Command ceremony at the Harold Washington Library, July 21, 2017.
Reisinger becomes the 65th commander of the district, which has been responsible for water resources development in the Chicago metropolitan area since 1833.
Brig. Gen. Mark Toy, commander of the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, passed the guidon from outgoing commander to the incoming commander. This Army tradition symbolizes the passing of authority and responsibility from the departing commander to his successor.
Reisinger comes to Chicago from Washington, D.C., where he was a strategist in the Stability and Humanitarian Affairs office of Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
The Chicago District works on projects in a variety of focus areas including flood risk management and storm damage reduction, navigation, aquatic ecosystem restoration, regulatory, emergency management, and interagency and international services.
Major projects include operating the electric barriers in the Chicago-area waterways, constructing the 10-billion-gallon McCook Reservoir, conducting the DuPage River Flood Risk Management Study, and implementing a variety of ecosystem restoration projects including ones at Horner Park and Fort Sheridan.