Yvonne Prettyman-Beck was assigned to the position of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Headquarters on October 23, 2023, after most recently serving as the National Program Manager for the Hurricane and Disaster Recovery (Emergency Supplemental) Program.
Prettyman-Beck, a native of Killeen, Texas, received her military commission upon her graduation from New Mexico Military Institute in 1979. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Master of Science degree in Management Science, and a Master of Science degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.
Prettyman-Beck retired from the United States Army as a Colonel after serving as the Chief of Staff at USACE Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Her other military assignments included Norfolk District Commander, USACE, Norfolk, Virginia; Operations Officer, Joint Operations Directorate, Pacific Command, the Pentagon; Commander, 84th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Department of the Army Secretary for Joint Affairs, The Pentagon; Secretary of the General Staff and Facilities Engineer, 13th Corps Support Command, and battalion Operations Officer, 62nd Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), Fort Cavazos, Texas; Executive Officer, Officer Distribution Division, U.S. Army Personnel Command, Alexandria, Virginia; Plans and Operations Officer, Defense Nuclear Agency, Alexandria, Virginia; Company Commander and Battalion Adjutant, 249th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), and Brigade Intelligence Officer, 18th Engineer Brigade, Karlsruhe, Germany; Executive Officer and Platoon Leader, HHC, 30th Engineer Topographic Battalion, Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and Test Officer, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Arms Test Activity; Fort Cavazos, Texas.
Upon military retirement, Prettyman-Beck entered the federal service in January 2009 as an Army Civilian with USACE. Her service included Program Manager, Civil Works Directorate, Programs Integration Division, and Deputy Chief for the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division Regional Integration Team.
Prettyman-Beck’s many military decorations are the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (two medals), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Service Volunteer Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Parachutist Badge, the Army Staff and the Joint Staff Identification Badges, and the Silver and Bronze de Fleury Medals. Civilian decorations include two Superior Civilian Service Medals and the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service.