Posted on July 28, 2025
Col. Patrick W. Caukin assumes command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District during a July 25 ceremony at the Robinson Center in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas.
He assumes command from Col. Damon M. Knarr, who is retiring after 27 years of service in the U.S. Army.
Little Rock District manages approximately $8 billion in public infrastructure. The district is responsible for maintaining 12 reservoirs, 13 navigation locks and dams, seven hydroelectric power plants, 168 recreation areas and 308 miles of commercial navigation channel.
The district has a staff of about 700 employees responsible for engineering, environmental, real estate, contracting, and other needs associated with federal, state, and local programs.
Caukin comes to the Little Rock District from the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
He graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. where he also earned his commission through the university’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
Caukin holds a Master of Science in Public Administration from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
He is a graduate of Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff Officer’s Course, Air Assault School, Pathfinder School, Airborne School, and the Jumpmaster Course.
Caukin has held a wide range of command and staff assignments across the U.S. and abroad. His previous leadership roles include Battalion Commander for the 5th Battalion, 3rd Security Forces Assistance Brigade Fort Hood, Texas, and the 3rd Battalion, 340th Infantry Regiment Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Additional assignments include Platoon Leader in C Company, 317th Engineer Battalion Fort Benning, Georgia; Brigade Executive Officer in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Fort Benning, Georgia; Division Engineer Advisor to the 3rd Iraqi Division Engineer and Bomb Disposal Battalions in Mosul, Iraq; Assistant Operations Officer with the 326th Engineer Battalion (Air Assault) Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Company Commander, 887th Engineer Support Company (Air Assault) Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Commander of the San Gabriel Valley Recruiting Company in Los Angeles, California;
Executive Officer and Battalion Operations Officer, 6th Brigade Engineer Battalion (Airborne) Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Operations Officer with the U.S. Army Garrison Daegu Department of Public Works in Daegu, South Korea; and Executive Officer and Operations Officer for the 5th Battalion, 2nd Security Forces Assistance Brigade Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal, Combat Action Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Recruiting Badge. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
Recreation information can be found on the Internet at www.swl.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/littlerockusace and on the USACE Little Rock water level mobile app at www.swl.usace.army.mil/Home/water-control-app/.
