Lt. Col. Josh Rud assumed the duties as the deputy district commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, in July 2024. Prior to this assignment, he served as the executive officer to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) commanding general at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
A native of Minnesota, Rud earned his commission through the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2008. He also holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Hubert H. Humphrey School at University of Minnesota and a Project Management Professional certification.
Upon completion of the Engineer Officers Basic Course, Rud was assigned to the 40th Engineer Battalion in Baumholder, Germany, where he served as a combat engineer platoon leader in Iraq and as a company executive officer in Afghanistan. He was later assigned to 307th Engineer Battalion at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, where he served as a battalion planner while deployed to Afghanistan and commanded Bravo Company, 307th Brigade Engineer Battalion while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. Rud then joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, where he served as a project manager in the Rapid Response Center of Expertise. Upon completion of the Command and General Staff College, Rud served as the 39th Brigade Engineer Battalion executive officer and operations officer; and then as the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) executive officer while deployed to southeastern Europe.
Rud is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic and Advance courses; the Army Command and General Staff College; the Sapper Leader Course; and the U.S. Army Ranger school.
His awards and decorations include three Bronze Stars; Meritorious Service Medal; three Army Commendation Medals and six Army Achievement Medals. He also earned the U.S. Army Air Assault and Parachute badges and Combat Action Badge.