Posted on July 1, 2024
Brig. Gen. Joseph C. “Clete” Goetz II became the 35th commanding general and division engineer of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Pacific Ocean Division (POD) in a June 13 ceremony at Ft. Shafter, Hawaii.
He succeeds BG Kirk E. Gibbs, who will become the Deputy Commanding General for Military and International Operations in Washington DC.
The POD is the largest area of responsibility within the Corps of Engineers, related Lt Gen Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, USACE commanding general and chief engineer. It consists of four districts and a team who manage an $11 billion program in Alaska, Honolulu, Japan and Korea.
“The bar has been set high, but you’re the right person, at the right time, to lead the POD team to even greater successes.” said Spellmon. “You have the experience and vision to continue propelling this high-performing team into the future.”
Goetz spent the past two years serving as the 100th Commandant of the United States Army Engineer School at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where he oversaw the professional military education and training courses for Army combat engineers.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic to be here,” Goetz shared during the ceremony. “A good engineer wants to be where the challenges are … and solve the nation’s toughest problems.”
Goetz added he is eager to work alongside the POD and U.S. Army Pacific team.
“I’ll give you everything that I’ve got,” he said. “I’m tremendously excited to work with you, our engineers. Be all that you can be!”
Embracing the Army’s “Be All You Can Be” slogan is something Gibbs witnessed firsthand.
“Our mission here is important,” he said. “Leaders must lead with an understanding of the culture and the people as well as the impacts of our actions.”
Gibbs started his tenure with the POD during the 2020 COVID pandemic and oversaw its response to catastrophic events like Typhoon Mawar and the Maui Wildfires. He also led the effort to build the Moose Creek Dam in Alaska, the Kunsan Runway in Korea, DODEA schools in Japan, and the USARPAC Headquarters in Hawaii.
The enormity and significance of the POC mission was not lost on its outgoing commander.
“I was so fortunate to command this great organization,” said Gibbs. “I am forever changed.”
