News Release
| Release Number: | 02-120 |
| Dated: | 7/19/2002 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-Col. Richard W. Hobernicht has assumed command of the Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He replaced Col. Randall J. Butler who was reassigned to Ft. Hood, Texas, to serve as the director of public works.
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. Its emphasis is on environmental management and restoration, fish and wildlife protection and enhancement, hydroelectric power, navigation, flood damage reduction, and operation of the Corps' center of expertise for hydropower and pump station engineering.
Hobernicht is a native of Sturgis, S.D. Following graduation from Black Hills State University in 1979, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers.
As a company grade officer, Col. Hobernicht served in a variety of command and staff assignments at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Altoona, Pa. Yong San, South Korea; Fort Shafter, Hawaii and in Southwestern Asia during Operation Desert Storm.
After attending graduate school and Command and General Staff College, Hobernicht served as the executive officer and operations officer for the 577th Engineer Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. from 1992 to 1994. From 1994 to 1997, he was the chief of Programs Branch, J5, United States European Command, Patch Barracks, Germany. From 1997 to 1999, Hobernicht commanded the 84th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where his battalion supported the Commander in Chief Pacific's Theater Engagement Strategy. His battalion successfully completed engineering missions in Mongolia, Bangladesh, Tonga, Kosrae, Thailand, Pohnpei, Marshall Islands, and Alaska. In July 2001, Hobernicht assumed the duties of executive officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
Hobernicht earned a bachelor's degree in business from Black Hills State University, a master's degree in public administration from Webster University, a master's degree in business administration from Syracuse University, and a master's degree in national security strategy from the National Defense University. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, and the National War College.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster (six awards), the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster (two awards), the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster (two awards), the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two battle stars, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3, the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, and the Parachute Badge.