Michael Brooks heads Corps in Alaska

Col. Michael Brooks took over as head of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Alaska District July 16, succeeding Col. Christopher Lestochi who now serves at the deputy commander for the Corps’ Pacific Ocean Division.

Brooks, a native of Alabama, became the 27th commander of the district. He is the former deputy chief and engineer planner for the Domestic Operations Division at U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The Corps has a multimillion-dollar program in Alaska that provides engineering, construction, planning, contracting, real estate, emergency operations, environmental and regulatory services to the military, federal, state and local governments, as well as to the public in Alaska.

Lestochi took command of the Corps’ Alaska district in July 2012, Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Milhorn, commanding general for the Corps’ Pacific Ocean Division, said in a statement. “Through creative and innovative restructuring, Chris avoided a reduction in force, marshaling the talents of the organization to change the financial trajectory and creating future opportunities by challenging us to get better,” he said.

- Petroleum News