Lt. Col. John Drew is the Norfolk District deputy commander and deputy district engineer.
Drew graduated from Missouri Western State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in construction engineering technology and was commissioned in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in December of 1993. He also holds a master’s degree in management from Webster’s University. He is a LEED Accredited Professional since 2009.
Drew entered active duty and attended the U.S. Army Engineer Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. His first unit assignment was as a paratrooper with the 362nd Engineer Company at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He served as a line platoon leader, maintenance platoon leader, and company executive officer at Fort Bragg and while deployed during Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He also served as the company executive officer for HHC, 20th Engineer Brigade at Fort Bragg.
Drew attended the Engineer Officer Advanced Course at Fort Leonard Wood and the Combined Arms Services Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He went on to serve as the company commander for C Company, 35th Engineer Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood and C Company, 169th Engineer Battalion with duty at Gulfport, Mississippi.
Drew attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He then deployed to Iraq for a year as a military transition team chief at Camp Echo, Iraq, working with the 8th Division of the Iraqi Army.
Following that assignment, Drew served with the Europe District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a Deputy Area Engineer and deputy commander. Drew’s next assignment was as a professor of military science in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, training and commissioning the next generation of Army leaders.
Drew’s most recent assignment was as operations officer for Shindand Airbase in western Afghanistan; geographically the second largest base in the country. Drew was responsible for the completion of U.S. operations and the transfer of the base to the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Drew’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Combat Action Badge, and Parachutist Badge.