Posted on July 29, 2024
BALTIMORE — Col. Francis Pera became the 70th commander and district engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, during a change of command ceremony at the Washington Aqueduct in Washington D.C., July 25, 2024.
Pera assumed command from Col. Estee Pinchasin, who had served in the role since July 2021.
A graduate of West Point, Pera takes command of one the largest USACE districts, with a staff of approximately 1,200 employees delivering a program of over $4 billion annually, providing vital engineering, design, construction and water resources management solutions to the mid-Atlantic region. The district’s area of responsibility spans the Susquehanna River, Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds, and 7,000 miles of coastline.
Pera also formally takes on the title of “Supervisor of the Harbor” for Baltimore Harbor, overseeing the USACE missions supporting the efficient operations of the Port of Baltimore. Earlier this year, Baltimore District was part of the Unified Command response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and played a critical role in re-opening the Fort McHenry Federal Channel to commercial maritime traffic into the Port of Baltimore.
Additionally, he will oversee the Washington Aqueduct, which produces an average of 135 million gallons of drinking water per day at two treatment plants for approximately one million citizens throughout the National Capital Region. Baltimore District is the only USACE district to operate a public utility.
“I am absolutely honored to be the newest member of this amazing Baltimore team,” said Pera. “I look forward to continuing upon the great success with our partners, in support of our communities and our nation’s security.”
Pera earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management from West Point to include one semester at the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He currently holds an Engineer in Training (EIT) Certification from the state of New York. He is also a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic Course and Engineer Officer Advanced Course, Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and the Army War College, where he served as a Defense Fellow at the College of William and Mary’s Public Policy department. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School, Sapper School, the Stryker Leader Course, and U.S. Army Airborne School.
Upon completing the Officer Basic Course, Pera arrived at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, in 2002 to serve as an Assistant S4 logistics officer on the Stryker fielding team. He then served as a Stryker Engineer Platoon leader in the 18th Engineer Company. As a platoon leader, he led two platoons until 2004, which included a deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Later, Pera served with the 1/307th Training Support Battalion as the Engineer Branch Chief, responsible for training the Pennsylvania National Guard on Stryker operations until 2007 before being selected to serve in the USACE Prime Power battalion as the assistant-S3 operations officer, then commander of Charlie Company for the 249th Engineer Battalion in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In that capacity, he deployed platoons in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and numerous federally declared disaster areas until August 2010.
Until 2013, Pera served as an engineer staff officer with the 25th Infantry Division, including on the Re-posture Team, where he was responsible for transferring all remaining U.S. bases to the Iraqi government during the final stages of Operation New Dawn. He then served as a regimental engineer for the 75th Ranger Regiment until 2015 with multiple deployments as part of a counter-terrorism joint task force during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Resolute Support.
Pera then served as a NATO Staff Engineer Officer for Balkans and Engineer Targeting Officer for Joint Forces Command in Naples, Italy, until 2018, followed by his role as Executive Officer for the Director of Program Analysis and Evaluation, G-8, on the Army Staff. In 2019, he assumed command of the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) and served as Commandant of the U.S. Army Prime Power School.
From 2022 to 2023, Colonel Pera was the Executive Officer to the U.S. Army Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Prior to assuming command in Baltimore, he served as Deputy Director of Operations for the Tradecraft and Technology Group at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.
His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense and Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Ranger Tab, Sapper Tab, the Parachutist Badge, and the Army Staff Badge.
Pinchasin’s next assignment is at Fort Meade, Maryland, where she will work on planning and construction for National Security Agency facilities.
“It has been a true honor and privilege to serve on this team,” said Pinchasin. “I am so proud knowing this is who we have doing the work and building our country. I wish all our citizens knew who they have working for them all the time. It is unbelievably inspiring.”
Additional Information
Baltimore District delivers vital engineering solutions in collaboration with its partners to serve and strengthen the Nation, energize the economy, and reduce disaster risks. Headquartered near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, Baltimore District provides design, engineering, construction, environmental, and real estate expertise to various important projects and customers. This support spans five states, the District of Columbia, overseas, and the Susquehanna, Potomac, and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. These civil and military missions and diverse engineering services support communities and warfighters while addressing the ever-growing list of emerging national security requirements and ultimately protecting the Nation.
Col. Estee Pinchasin, 69th commander and district engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, provides departing remarks during a change of command ceremony at the Washington Aqueduct in Washington D.C., July 25, 2024. Col. Francis Pera assumed command of the district from Col. Estee Pinchasin, who had served in the role since July 2021.
Col. Francis Pera became the 70th commander and district engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, during a change of command ceremony at the Washington Aqueduct in Washington D.C., July 25, 2024.
