Colonel Jayson Putnam assumed command of the Huntington District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, on July 15, 2021. As the District Commander, he is responsible for carrying out the District’s mission within the Ohio River Basin, which includes more than 300 navigable miles of the Ohio River in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, plus nine major tributaries. This area encompasses 45,000 square miles in five states – West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and North Carolina. His staff of more than 1000 employees supports the District’s mission to operate and maintain 35 multi-purpose reservoirs and 9 locks and dams, providing flood damage reduction, commercial navigation, recreation, and water supply while protecting the environment. The District is involved in significant planning, design, and construction efforts that address replacement of outdated navigation structures on the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, dam safety measures at operating projects in central Ohio and southern West Virginia, other significant water resource challenges, as well as emergency management. His staff performs the Corps’ regulatory mission in West Virginia and Ohio.
Colonel Putnam was born in Berlin, VT. He was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers through the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1997. Prior to his assignment to the Huntington District, he served as the USACE G3 at HQ, USACE.
His previous assignments include Commander of the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion; Brigade Deputy Commander/Provisional Commander for 3rd Brigade, 3ID; Commander of the 11th Engineer Battalion at Ft. Benning; Executive Officer for the Director of Operations, OACSIM at the Pentagon; Executive Officer for the Strategy & Effects Directorate at ARCENT’s Operational Command Post (OCP) in Kuwait; Battalion Executive Officer and Operations Officer for the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) at Ft. Belvoir; Executive Officer for the Deputy Chief of Engineers at HQ USACE, Branch Chief for the Multi-Spectral Branch at NGA’s School for Geospatial-Intelligence (TSG); Brigade Engineer for 4/3 ID at Ft. Stewart and in Iraq; Company Commander for E/3-7 Infantry (C/11th EN BN) at Ft. Stewart and in Iraq; Battalion Adjutant and Company Executive Officer for the 65th Engineer Battalion at Schofield Barracks; and Platoon Leader for C/91st Engineer Battalion at Ft. Hood and in Bosnia.
Colonel Putnam’s decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with four Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Combat Action Badge.
Colonel Putnam has deployed to Bosnia, Iraq, and Kuwait.
Colonel Putnam earned his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering at West Point, a Master’s of Science Degree in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri-Rolla, a Master’s Degree in Defense Geographic Information Systems from the Royal School of Military Survey at Denison Barracks, Hermitage, UK and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College.