U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District welcomes new Commander
July 10, 2017
CHARLESTON, SC – Lt. Col. Jeffrey Palazzini will assume command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, in a change of command ceremony this Friday, July 14, at 10 a.m. at The Citadel’s Mark Clark Hall in the Buyer Auditorium. Palazzini replaces Lt. Col. Matthew Luzzatto, whose new assignment will be at the U.S. Army War College.
Palazzini joins the District as the 87th Commander and District Engineer from his assignment as the Deputy Commander for you U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District. Palazzini served as a lieutenant with the 16th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division in Giessen, Germany, and deployed to Kosovo as a platoon leader. He commanded E Company, 1-68 Combined Arms Battalion, 4th Infantry Division in Fort Carson, Colorado, deploying twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a major, he was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (505th PIR), 82nd Airborne Division as the Brigade Engineer and 307th Brigade Engineer Battalion’s Operations Officer.
Palazzini also served as an assistant professor in the West Point Social Sciences Department where he taught Principles of Economics, Leadership and was the course director for Macroeconomics. During his assignment to Sacramento District, Palazzini deployed to Iraq as the Deputy Commander for the Mosul Dam Task Force in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
Originally from Mercerville, New Jersey, Palazzini was commissioned as a Combat Engineer Officer from the U.S. Military Academy in 1999. He holds a B.S. in Economics from the U.S. Military Academy and an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
Palazzini’s military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic Course, the Armor Officer Advanced Course, Intermediate Level Education and Combined Arms and Services Staff School at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Sapper Leader Course, and Jumpmaster School. He is a certified Project Management Professional.
Palazzini’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with “V” device, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, Senior Parachutist Badge, Combat Action Badge and the Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal.
As district engineer, Palazzini will be responsible for planning, engineering and constructing water resource projects, such as the Charleston Harbor Post 45 Deepening Project, and administering laws for the protection of navigable waterways and regulatory actions for the state. He will oversee approximately 225 employees who are stationed throughout the state. Palazzini will oversee the military construction program at Fort Jackson, as well as other federal agencies throughout the city, state, and region.
