Colonel Charles L. Decker assumed command of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Caribbean District on July 26, 2024, making him the first commander of the 43rd USACE district. Colonel Decker previously served as the USACE Task Force Virgin Islands Puerto Rico commander. In his previous two assignments, he was the Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) Plans Officer for the 1st Mission Support Command in Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, and Commander of the 841st Engineer Battalion in Miami, Florida. He was Direct Commissioned as an Ensign into the U.S. Naval Reserve Civil Engineer Corps in 1996. Prior to taking command of the 841st he served in numerous leadership and staff positions with units such as Naval Mobil Construction Battalion 24, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), USACE Huntsville Engineering Support Center, Special Operations Detachment – North (Airborne), and 91st Training Division. He has deployed in support of OPERATION NOBLE EAGLE and ENDURING FREEDOM.
Colonel Decker’s military education includes U.S. Navy Direct Commission Officer Indoctrination, Civil Engineer Corps Officer School Basic Qualification Course, Construction Battalion Operations, Seabee Project Planning and Seabee Project Execution, U.S. Army Airborne School, John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course, Field Artillery School Captain’s Career Course, Combined Arms Exercise, Pathfinder School, Command and General Staff Officer Course (Intermediate Level Education – Common Core), Battalion Pre-Command Course, and Command and General Staff Officer Course (Advanced Operations Course).
Colonel Decker’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with Gold Star, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with Four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10-yr Bronze Hourglass and M Device, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon with Bronze Numeral 2, Navy “E” Ribbon, Foreign Parachutist Badge (Uzbekistan), Gold German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency, Special Forces Tab, U.S. Navy Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist, U.S. Army Parachutist Badge, and U.S. Army Pathfinder Badge.
Colonel Decker holds a Master of Science degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Stanford University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Clarkson University and is a Project Management Institute (PMI) certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
Colonel Decker is married to the former Monica Gunter, and they have two sons and a daughter. His eldest son is currently a Sergeant in the Tennessee National Guard. Colonel Decker and his wife have resided in Puerto Rico for the past seven years.