Col. Eric Swenson

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District
Published July 28, 2022

Colonel Eric R. Swenson assumed command of the St. Paul District July 28, 2022, becoming the district’s 67th commander and district engineer.

The St. Paul District employs around 700 professionals that work at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states. The district serves the American public in the areas of navigation, flood risk management, environmental enhancement, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. 

Swenson’s previous assignments include Battalion Commander, 1-345 Brigade Engineer Battalion, Camp Atterbury, Indiana; Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York; Battalion Executive Officer, 54th Engineer Battalion, Bamberg, Germany; Assistant Operations Officer, 18th Engineer Brigade, forward deployed to Afghanistan; Brigade Engineer, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kansas; Commander, Company A, 70th Engineer Battalion, Fort Riley, Kansas; Assistant Operations Officer, 937th Engineer Group, Fort Riley, Kansas; and Company Executive Officer and Platoon Leader, 4th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado. 

He holds both a Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Penn State University; a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College; a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the Army War College, and a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy. 

Swenson’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Armed Forces Service Medal, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Army Parachutist Badge, and Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal.