Colonel
Maria R. Gervais

Colonel Maria R. Gervais is the commander of the U.S. Army Environmental Command, located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. In this role she is responsible for addressing environmental challenges that face the Army from issues such as base closure and realignment, unit stationing, transformation, installation cleanups and growth of the force while preparing the command for its BRAC 2005-directed move to Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Colonel Gervais assumed duties as the commander of the U.S. Army Environmental Command on July 29, 2008 after completing the United States Army War College. Prior to attending the Army War College, she was assigned to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where she commanded the 82nd Chemical Battalion and served as the Chief of Staff for the United States Army Chemical School and Maneuver Support Center.

Commissioned as a Chemical Officer in 1987 through the ROTC program at Lander College in Greenwood, S.C., Gervais' first assignment was that of the Brigade Chemical Officer and the Headquarters' Executive Officer for the 17th Field Artillery Brigade in Augsburg, Germany. She then served as a Platoon Leader and Executive Officer for the 11th Chemical Company (Decon) during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Upon her return from Southwest Asia, she was assigned as the Battalion Chemical Officer for 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment (Attack), 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Upon completion of the Chemical Officer Advanced Course, she was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) where she served as the Division NBC Element Director, the Division Headquarters and Headquarters' Company Commander, and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Aviation Brigade Chemical Officer. Next, she was assigned to the Pentagon as a Joint Chiefs of Staff intern where she served in the J-5, Policy and Strategy Directorate, Weapons Technology Control Division and as the Systems Integrator for Smoke and Decon Systems in Headquarters Department of the Army, G3. Upon completion of the Command and General Staff College, she was once again assigned to Fort Hood where she served as the Executive Officer to the III Corps G3 and as the S3, Operations Officer, for 2nd Chemical Battalion, 13th Corps Support Command. Her subsequent assignment was to the 21st Theater Support Command, Kaiserslautern, Germany where she deployed to Turkey while serving as a Logistical Planner for Operation Iraqi Freedom and she also served as the Chief of Operations. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Lander College, a Master of Arts in Human Resources from Webster's University, and a Master of Military Science from the United States Army War College.

Her personal awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (eight Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (six Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), Global War on Terrorism Support Medal, National Defense Service Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), Southwest Asia with thre Bronze Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (two Oak Leaf Clusters), Kuwait Liberation Medal, Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation Medal, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Joint Staff Identification Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge, and Joint Meritorious Unit Award.

USAEC Organizational Structure