Col. Eric R. Swenson became the deputy commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division in August 2025.
The North Atlantic Division is one of nine divisions comprised of over 3,700 employees providing engineering and construction services to the nation. It is USACE’s headquarters for the Northeastern United States, Europe, and Africa, with six subordinate district command offices located in Concord, Mass., New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, Va., and Wiesbaden, Germany.
Prior to his arrival at the division, Swenson served as the commander and district engineer of USACE’s St. Paul District, most recently serving additionally as the Recovery Field Office commander for the 2025 Southern California wildfires recovery mission.
Swenson’s previous assignments include battalion commander, 1-345 Brigade Engineer Battalion, Camp Atterbury, Ind.; assistant professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.; battalion executive officer, 54th Engineer Battalion, Bamberg, Germany; assistant operations officer, 18th Engineer Brigade, forward deployed to Afghanistan; brigade engineer, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; commander, Company A, 70th Engineer Battalion, Fort Riley, Kan.; assistant operations officer, 937th Engineer Group, Fort Riley, Kan.; and company executive officer and platoon leader, 4th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colo.
He holds both a Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Penn State University; a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College; a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the Army War College, and a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy.
Swenson’s military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Armed Forces Service Medal, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Army Parachutist Badge, and Silver Order of the de Fleury Medal.