WIESBADEN, Germany –
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers celebrates 40 years in Europe and welcomed a new commander, Col. Matthew R. Tyler, to Europe District during a change-of-command ceremony Friday at the Amelia Earhart Center in Wiesbaden.
Tyler becomes the district’s 20th commander. He succeeds Col. D. Peter Helmlinger, who is deploying to take command of USACE’s Transatlantic Afghanistan District.
“I am honored to become part of the Europe District team,” Tyler said. “I know Pete Helmlinger leaves a legacy of excellence. I’ll continue to build on the district’s reputation of engineering excellence.”
Presiding over the ceremony was Brig. Gen. Kent Savre, the USACE North Atlantic Division commander. He praised Helmlinger’s leadership, commitment as the district consistently delivered quality projects during his three-year tenure.
“Pete Helmlinger has provided exemplary leadership to Europe District these last few years while supporting our nation's strategic interests in Europe and Africa,” Savre said. “He is a role model and leader within the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and I am so proud of his service as a commander.”
Savre then welcomed Tyler to Europe District.
“With his recent experience as the United States Army Europe deputy chief of staff for engineering, Col. Tyler is very well positioned to assume command of Europe District,” Savre said. “His relationship with United States Army Europe and United States European Command will pay dividends as he leads the district in executing its mission.”
Coincidentally, USAREUR Engineer Command gave birth to USACE in Europe 40 years ago. The partnership between the two organizations extends back to the end of the Vietnam War.
Due to declining military expenditures after the war, USAREUR faced pressure to reduce the size of its headquarters and budget. In July 1974, USAREUR asked USACE to take responsibility for military construction in theater. Later that year, Engineer Command was transferred to USACE, creating the U.S. Army Engineer Division Europe in Frankfurt. In 1991, following the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, the division downsized to a district and relocated to its current headquarters in Wiesbaden.
USACE continues to support USAREUR in planning and managing military construction, exercise-related construction, theater security cooperation and projects aimed at improving the working and living conditions of soldiers, families and civilians throughout Europe.
It is the district’s mission to provide premier engineering, construction, stability operations, and environmental-management products and services to the Army, Air Force, other U.S. government agencies, and foreign governments throughout the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility.
Col. Matthew R. Tyler Bio: http://www.nau.usace.army.mil/About/Leadership.aspx
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers history in Europe: http://www.nau.usace.army.mil/About/History.aspx