Lieutenant Colonel Rob Etheridge assumed duty as the Deputy Commander for Cyber Transformation, Savannah District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, July 6, 2021. As a Deputy Commander stationed at Ft. Gordon, Etheridge oversees the Savannah District’s military program while embedded inside the Transformation Cell. The mission is to transform Ft. Gordon into the Army’s premiere Cyber Center of Excellence by synchronizing the programming, planning, and execution of over 80 Military Construction and Sustainment Restoration Modernization projects with an expected budget over $1.6 Billion over the next ten years. He coordinates closely with multiple USACE districts, contractors, senior military leaders, IMCOM, OACSIM, and the Department of the Army. He is directly responsible for efficient communication between USACE and the Transformation Cell as well as the establishment of mutually beneficial procedures furthering strategic goals for both. Additionally, Etheridge provides direct military expertise and support to the Georgia State Government during any emergency management situations.
Etheridge holds a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resource Management from Clemson University (2000), a Masters in Business Administration from Clemson University (2007), and a Masters of Science in Construction Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology (2014) and is a registered Project Management Professional. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Course, the Command and General Staff Officers’ Course, and Airborne School.
From 2003 to 2005, Etheridge served as an Infantryman with 4-23 Infantry in Ft. Richardson, Alaska. In 2005, he was selected for the Army’s Green to Gold Program and attended Clemson University. He graduated from Clemson in 2007 and was assigned to the 54th Engineer Battalion in Bamberg, Germany where he deployed as a Platoon Leader with the 541st Engineer Company to Romania (2008) and as an Executive Officer to Afghanistan (2009) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. After completing his time in the battalion as the Assistant Operations Officer, Etheridge attended the Engineer Officer Advanced Course and was assigned to command the 63rd Engineer Company, 11th Engineer Battalion in Ft. Benning, GA. He deployed the company to Afghanistan in 2013, redeploying to Ft. Benning in 2014. After attending Advanced Civil Schooling in 2014, Etheridge was assigned to the San Francisco District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with duty at the Presidio of Monterey in Monterey, California as a project engineer. He completed Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 2018 and was selected to serve as the Executive Officer to the Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Major General Mike Wehr, until taking over as the battalion Operations Officer for the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) in 2019. Etheridge concluded his time in the 249th as the Battalion Executive Officer in 2021.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (1OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal (3OLC), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (2OLC), the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 campaign stars), the Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Overseas Service Ribbon (with “3” device), the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Basic Parachutist Badge. He was also awarded the Valorous Unit Award. The Engineer Regiment awarded Etheridge the Bronze de Fleury Medal.