In a ceremony at the Pentagon on October 3rd 2014, IWP US Army War College Fellow (USAWCF) Edward P. Chamberlayne was promoted to the rank of Colonel.
Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick, the Chief of Engineers of the United States Army and the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, gave remarks at the ceremony, which took place in a tribute area to General Dwight Eisenhower at the Pentagon. About sixty guests attended, including 22 members of COL Chamberlayne’s family. His mother Mary, wife Allison, and children Emma and Ed had the opportunity to participate by pinning the new rank on his shoulders.
The invocation was given by CH (COL) Samuel K. Godfrey, who is also currently a Fellow at the Institute. IWP USAWCF LTC Charmaine Betty-Singleton was also in attendance.
COL Chamberlayne comments: “In the military, we have a tradition of doing promotion ceremonies. But it’s not necessarily to celebrate our achievement, but to thank those who have helped us along the way. In my case, I was able to thank family, friends from high school and college, and colleagues from various assignments during the last 21 years of my career.”
During his fellowship at IWP this school year, COL Chamberlayne is researching oil and natural gas exploration and potential impacts to critical infrastructure that the US Army Corps of Engineers operates and maintains. He is investigating, for instance, possible structural risks caused by hydraulic fracturing, which may affect infrastructure such as dams that the Army built and operates for purposes of flood protection and hydroelectric power generation. From a broader perspective, COL Chamberlayne’s research will address national security implications of energy security for our country and the security of our critical infrastructure.
When COL Chamberlayne leaves IWP, he will command the Baltimore District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, which covers most of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and includes parts of Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware. Pennsylvania is one of the main epicenters of hydraulic fracturing, and COL Chamberlayne is using his time at IWP to learn about this area before taking command in this District. In this capacity, he will be reporting to LTG Bostick, who currently serves as his Senior Army Mentor during his IWP fellowship.
Congratulations COL Chamberlayne!
Photos by the US Army Corps of Engineers.