Toomey takes command of engineer district

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

07.19.2005

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region South

by LaShawn Sykes,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Col. Christopher J. Toomey assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Afghanistan Engineer District from outgoing Commander Col. John B. O'Dowd during a change of command ceremony here today.

Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan's Commander Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry presided over the transfer of leadership while CFC-A's CJ7 Sgt. Maj. Charles Hawkins oversaw the exchange of colors.

During Eikenberry's remarks, he acknowledged a few of O'Dowd's many accomplishments such as the building of bridges, roads and the Afghan National Army bases. "It is truly remarkable to see all that he has accomplished, providing security through the infrastructure he's building and the hiring and training of more than 6,000 Afghans a day is giving hope to the next generation."

"We are blessed to have Chris join a great team because he is no stranger to the work that's being done here -- just look at his track record in Iraq where he led the 555th Brigade," he said.

The guidon that got passed to Chris today, with God's graces and good support, is going to help him march that banner forward here in Afghanistan. In addition to serving as District commander, Toomey will serve as the staff engineer for CFC-A. In this role, he will oversee all engineering activities for the military and the Department of Defense, including construction of roads, bridges and forward operating bases.

"It is a distinct privilege to have the opportunity to continue to both serve our nation and this great organization as we contribute to the defeat of terrorism and the development of a secure and stable Afghanistan," said Toomey.

Quoting Abraham Lincoln's 1860 phrase, "right must make might," Toomey said, "today we face an enemy who would enslave us in the chains of terrorism. That enemy would have us to believe that might, the power of the sword or the bomb makes right."

Indeed the recent attacks in London are evident that our enemy is alive and active. We here must strive to create the conditions that would prove Lincoln correct -- be it power projection platforms for our forces, be it the infrastructure to provide for a capable and responsible Afghan National Army and Police who can take the fight to the enemy or be it, in conjunction with our partners, a restored infrastructure as the bedrock for a stable democratic government.

You, in the Afghan Engineer District, who have volunteered to serve your country, will help lead the way in ensuring that right indeed makes might and that the force of good will prevail.

Toomey served during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he commanded the 555th Combat Engineer Group and Task Force ABLE as part of the 4th Infantry Division. As commander, he led more than 3,200 Soldiers in combat operations. Before graduating with the highest distinction from the College of Naval Warfare, U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I., in 2003, Toomey served as Chief, C4ISR and Battle Command with the TRADOC Army Transformation Task Force at Fort Lewis, Wash. Toomey was also assigned to NATO Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany.

Deploying to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, he served as NATO SFOR's Chief, Engineer Plans and later served as Chief, Partnership for Peace, Headquarters Land Forces Central Europe.

A native of Rhode Island, Toomey was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers upon graduation as distinguished cadet from the U.S. Military Academy in 1981.Speaking briefly, O'Dowd explained the district's mission in two parts.

In the first piece he said, the district has a major role here by building the platforms needed to build US Forces and by building the facilities needed to support the Afghan National Army and Police. The second piece is strategic reconstruction and economic development. In concert with the US Agency for International Development, the district is building roads, schools, clinics, water and power, which is making a huge difference and is an important part of our fight here," he said.

Before exiting, O'Dowd had a few final remarks for the civilians and the new commander. "To the Corps of Engineers, civilians, contractors, an Afghan workers, he said," "you all may be the bravest people in this theater because you don't have to be here -- yet you all volunteer. You go out everyday in a country where people have been tearing things done for the last 25 years and you build," he said. The Corps of Engineers is about building and we are judged by what we put in the ground. But at the end of the day we build much more than the structures we put in the ground; we are building capacity within Afghanistan. And to the new commander, Toomey, he said, I feel comfortable leaving knowing that you will carry the mission on and get the job done."

O'Dowd will serve as the Chief of Staff of the United States Military Mission at the United Nations in New York, starting in August.

• Date Taken: 07.19.2005
• Date Posted: 07.19.2005 15:49
• Story ID: 2445
• Location: KABUL, AF