News Release
| Release Number: | 08-089 |
| Dated: | 5/30/2008 |
| Contact: | Diana J. Fredlund, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. – Col. Steven Miles became the District Commander of the Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, during a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial today.
Miles assumed command from Col. Thomas O’Donovan, who was selected to command the Afghanistan Engineer District in Kabul.
The Portland District is responsible for the Corps’ water resource activities in western Oregon and southwestern Washington and has one of the Corps’ most comprehensive and diversified civil works programs. Emphasis is placed on environmental protection and restoration, fish and wildlife protection and enhancement, hydropower production, navigation, flood damage reduction, recreation and operation of the Corps’ center of expertise for hydropower and pump station engineering. The Portland District also provides support for the Global War on Terror.
A native of Cherry Hill, N.J., Miles received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Norwich University and was commissioned in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1985. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Boston University in 1994 and a second master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2007. He is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College and Joint Forces Staff College.
Prior to this assignment, Miles served as Commander, Northwestern Division, from November 2007 to May 2008 and as Deputy Commander, Northwestern Division, from July to November 2007. Earlier assignments included deployment to Fallujah, Iraq, with the Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as the Area Engineer in direct support of the Marine Expeditionary Force, executing stability and reconstruction operations in western Iraq (Al Anbar Province), 2005-2006.
His awards, decorations, and badges include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal (4th Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (3rd Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal (Bronze Service Star), Armed Forces Services Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Parachutist Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Sapper Tab.
Miles is a licensed professional engineer in Oregon and Virginia and a recipient of the Army Engineer Assoc. Bronze DeFleury Medal.