Major Ben M. Cox assumed duties as the Deputy District Commander of the Fort Worth District, U.S Army Corps of Engineers on August 1, 2025. As such, he assists the District Commander at an organization responsible for water resource development for most of Texas, and military design and construction in Texas, and parts of Louisiana. The District's civil works program, combined with military construction, spans over 320,000 square miles and employs over 1,200 personnel, the District maintains 25 lakes and major urban floodways that cost over $2.6 billion and has prevented more than $68 billion in flood damages. Aside from furnishing approximately 35 percent of the Texas surface water supply, these facilities also provide outdoor recreation opportunities for millions of visitors annually. The District’s military construction mission includes supervising the design and construction of projects such as family housing and medical, training and aircraft facilities at Army and Air Force installations in Texas and Louisiana.
Prior to his assignment with the Fort Worth District he served as the 36th Engineer Brigade Executive Officer at 3rd Armored Corps, Fort Hood, Texas.
Maj. Cox grew up in the Bavaria region of Germany and lived in the small town of Hohenberg. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S Army Corps of Engineers.
After Engineer Officer Basic Course, Maj. Cox served as a Platoon Leader for the 570th Sapper Company, 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade. In 2011, he deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as a Platoon Leader.
Following the Engineer Captains’ Career Course, Maj. Cox served as a Regimental Engineer Plans Officer for the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. In 2014 he redeployed to Afghanistan for Operation Resolute Support as an Engineer Planner during several base closures and then transitioned to infrastructure training and transfer where he served as an advisor to two Afghan National Army Corps Departments of Public Works and the Army Corps of Engineers.
In 2015, he assumed command of Alpha Company, Regimental Engineer Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, where he activated the company, trained and certified at the National Training Center. In 2016 his unit deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Resolute Support.
Maj. Cox moved to Hohenfels, Germany, in 2017, where he served as an Observer Coach / Trainer for the Joint Multinational Readiness Center. He completed his 15-month requirement and returned to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to serve as an Engineer Captains Career Course instructor, completing his requirements for the Project Warrior Fellowship.
In 2021, after graduating from the Command and General Staff College, he joined the 36th Engineer Brigade, 3rd Armored Corps, Fort Hood, Texas, where he served as the Plans Chief. That was followed by a move to the 62nd Engineer Battalion as the S3 Operations Officer. He returned to the 36th Engineer Brigade as Brigade Operations Officer, and finally as the Brigade Executive Officer.
Maj. Cox holds a Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, a Master of Science degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Missouri (Rolla), and a Master of Military Arts and Science in Operational Arts from the Army’s Command and General Staff College.
Maj. Cox’s military awards and decorations include Bronze Star Medal (Two Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (One Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two stars, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a NATO Medal with Bronze Service Star, and a Parachutist Badge.