Armed Forces Full Honors change of command and retirement ceremony will honor the 53rd Chief of Engineers

Published May 12, 2016

WASHINGTON – The 53rd Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, will retire from military service at an Armed Forces Full Honors Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony Thursday, May 19 at 3 p.m. The ceremony will be held on Summerall Field, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia.
Bostick became the 53rd Chief of Engineers, May 22, 2012. The Chief of Engineers is the principal adviser to the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) on civil and military engineering, geospatial sciences, water resources, real property and environmental sciences. During his tenure, Bostick served as the senior military officer overseeing most of the nation’s civil works infrastructure and military construction. As commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he leads more than 32,000 civilian employees and 700 military personnel who provide project management, construction support and engineering expertise in more than 110 countries.
Prior to his current duties, he served as the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, the principal adviser to the CSA on manpower, human resources and personnel readiness. There, he initiated plans to ensure the Army maintains the right size to meet the needs of the nation, served on the Comprehensive Review Working Group that examined the impacts of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” expanded opportunities for women and helped grow leader development programs.
Bostick is a 1978 graduate of the United States Military Academy, where he later served as Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, after earning Masters of Science degrees in Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.
Bostick served as special assistant to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as a White House Fellow from 1989-1990. White House Fellowships offer remarkable young men and women first-hand experience working at the highest levels of federal government.
In 2001, Bostick served as the Deputy Director for Operations, Joint Staff J-3, in the National Military Command Center in the Pentagon during the events of September 11, 2001. He later served as the Assistant Division Commander in the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, with service during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2004, he became the Director of Military Programs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with duty as Commander, Gulf Region Division.
From October 2005 to May 2009, Bostick served as the Commanding General of the United States Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Ky., where he initiated the “Team” concept of recruiting, created a Medical Recruiting Brigade, started the “Grassroots Center of Influence Outreach” program and championed the “Army Strong” slogan.
Bostick’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Recruiter Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge and the Army Staff identification badge.
Bostick will retire from military service after having served the nation for 38 years. Over the course of those years, Bostick and his wife, Renée, an educator and administrator, moved 24 times for his assignments within the United States and abroad. The Bosticks have one son, Joshua, a graduate of Stanford University and a social science and technology researcher.
Bostick will relinquish command to Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite during the change of command and retirement ceremony. Semonite will become the 54th Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. During Semonite’s previous assignment, he established the Army Talent Management Task Force. He served as the Director of the Task Force for seven months helping to reform how the Army acquires, develops, employs and retains a talented workforce.
Media interested in covering the ceremony should contact the Military District of Washington Public Affairs Office at usarmy.mcnair.mdw.mbx.mediadesk-omb@mail.mil or call 202-685-4645.

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Release no. 16-006