Colonel Calvin A. Kroeger assumed command of the Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on August 3, 2023. As such, he commands 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.
Col. Kroeger was born and raised in Clovis, New Mexico. He received his first commission from New Mexico Military Institute in 1997 until he resigned his commission to pursue his dream of attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He graduated West Point in 2001 and commissioned into the Engineer Regiment. His first assignment was with the First Cavalry Division at Fort Cavazos, Texas, where he served as a sapper platoon leader, assault and obstacle platoon leader, and company executive officer in the 20th Engineer Battalion, where he deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Following the Maneuver Captains Career Course, he was assigned as the Brigade Engineer for 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division at Fort Richardson, Alaska. He took command of Alpha Company, 425th Special Troops Battalion, where he finished a fifteen-month deployment to central Iraq.
After company command, Col. Kroeger was selected as the Engineer Branch representative and engineer instructor at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY. Following his assignment at West Point and completing the Command and General Staff College, Col. Kroeger served as the 2nd Engineer Brigade S3 Plans Officer where he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He redeployed to serve as the 532nd Engineer Battalion (Provisional) Executive Officer, and 6th Brigade Engineer Battalion Executive Officer at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Prior to battalion command, Col. Kroeger was an Observer/Coach Trainer at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Johnson, Louisiana. He was prepositioned as the Deputy Brigade Commander of 1st Engineer Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Col. Kroeger took command of the 35th Engineer Battalion (Engineer One Station Unit Training), 1st Engineer Brigade, based at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Following battalion command, he served as the CENTCOM Future Operations Officer and Chief, Operational Engineer at HQ, U.S. Special Operations Command. He simultaneously attended the U.S. Army War College Distance Education Program.
Col. Kroeger is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic Course, Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, the Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from West Point, a Master of Business Administration degree from Central Michigan University, and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies from U.S. Army War College.
His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. He is authorized to wear the Combat Action Badge, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. He is a recipient of the Army Engineer Association’s Bronze de Fleury Medal.
Col. Kroeger is married to the former Cathy Kilkenny of Rochester, New Hampshire. They have four adult children: Garrett, Cynthia, Caleb, and Chris.