Colonel Christopher W. Crary

Colonel Christopher W. Crary assumed duties as the Deputy Division Commander for the Pacific Ocean Division (POD), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on Aug. 1, 2022. 

The Division’s mission includes engineering design, construction and real estate management for the Army in Hawaii, Army and Air Force in Alaska, and for all Department of Defense agencies in Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. POD administers the Corps’ federal water resource development program and waters and wetlands regulatory programs in Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  The Division’s program includes the $10 billion multi-year Korea Transformation Program and the $15.8 billion multi-year U.S. - Japan Defense Policy Review Initiative. POD also supports U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Army Pacific’s theater security cooperation strategies, Humanitarian Assistance Program, and civil military emergency preparedness with projects throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

COL Crary received his commission as an Engineer Officer from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1997. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering, a Master of Science Degree in Engineering Management, and a master’s in Strategic Studies. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.

COL Crary’s most recent assignment was the Commander and District Engineer of the Far East District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Other previous assignments include: Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Battalion Training Officer in the 92^nd Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia; Battalion Assistant Operations Officer, 46^th Engineer Battalion, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Bravo Company Commander, 46^th Engineer Battalion, Fort Rucker, Alabama and in Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM; Naval Exchange Officer, 30^th Naval Construction Regiment, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and in Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Naval Exchange Officer, 1^st Naval Construction Division (Pacific), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Force Integration Officer–Afghan National Army Development, CJ7 Directorate, Combined Security Transition Command–Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM; Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer, 4^th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado and in Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM; Deputy District Commander, San Francisco District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco, California; Deputy Corps Engineer, 130^th Engineer Brigade while deployed to Afghanistan in Support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM; District Commander, Honolulu District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; and Engineer Division Chief and Chief of Engineering Operations, Plans, and Readiness for the J44 Engineer Division, J4 Logistics, Engineering and Security Cooperation Directorate, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii.

COL Crary’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), the Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 GS), and the Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC). He has also been awarded the Engineer Regiment’s Sliver Order of the de Fleury.