CHARLESTON, S.C. -- CHARLESTON, S.C. --- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District welcomed its 90th commander today at a change of command ceremony. Lt. Col. Robert Nahabedian assumed command from Lt. Col. Andrew Johannes. The ceremony was officiated by Brig. Gen. Daniel Hibner, commanding general, South Atlantic Division, USACE.
Nahabedian brings more than 20 years of military leadership to the position. He most recently served with NATO’s 1st German Netherland Corps in Münster, Germany as a policy staff officer. He has also served in a variety of leadership positions in the United States, the Middle East, and Europe including company commander of Echo Company, 3rd Battalion/7th Infantry Regiment at Fort Stewart, GA and Forward Operating Base Falcon in Baghdad, Iraq. He was the assistant operations officer, company commander, and special projects officer for the 92nd Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, GA and Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan. He was an assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering at West Point.
No stranger to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nahabedian served as the assistant operations officer at the Los Angeles District and the deputy program manager for the Border Fence Program in 2008 at the Los Angeles District’s Arizona and Nevada area office. He also served as the commander of the 59th Forward Engineer Support Team at the USACE Tulsa District and in Wiesbaden, Germany, developing critical projects across the span of eastern Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve and the European Deterrence Initiative.
Nahabedian holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from the U.S. Military Academy, a master’s degree in engineering management from Missouri University of Science and Technology, and a master’s degree in engineering management from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
USACE plays a crucial role in the growth and prosperity of South Carolina which is seen through its work on the Charleston Peninsula Coastal Flood Risk Management project, Charleston Harbor Post 45 Deepening project, coastal resiliency projects, military construction, disaster response, regulatory compliance program, and many others. Nahabedian looks forward to continuing to deliver these vital programs which better the lives of South Carolinians.
“It is great to be back working for the Corps of Engineers again and my family could not be happier that our Corps’ assignment will be in this beautiful state. The Charleston District has a long history of working hard for the citizens of South Carolina and I am honored to take the torch and continue delivering engineering solutions to the challenges facing our communities, state and nation. I look forward to getting to know our partners, customers and stakeholders as they are key to our mission’s success,” Lt. Col. Robert Nahabedian, district commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District.