CAMP ZAMA, Japan – Maj. Simratpal “Simmer” Singh, deputy commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District (JED), was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel throughout a ceremony on Nov. 26 on the District headquarters on Camp Zama.
Col. Patrick Biggs, JED commander, presided over the ceremony and administered a reaffirmation of the oath of workplace to the newly promoted chief. Singh’s father, Sukhbir Singh, and mom, Jasvir Kaur, pinned the brand new rank on her son in entrance of household, pals, and colleagues.
“The Army and this Nation have given this village kid from Punjab far more than he deserves and my hope is to be able to give even a 10th of it back,” Singh mentioned in his remarks. “When success felt out of reach, when weariness set in, [my mentors and friends] have taught me to keeping pushing with my head held high. Good leaders throughout my career have lifted me up and helped remove barriers. [This] I hope to emulate,” he mentioned.
As the District’s deputy commander, Singh oversees a variety of engineering missions that help the U.S.-Japan Alliance, which reinforces regional stability throughout the Indo-Pacific. His promotion to lieutenant colonel marks a major vote of confidence in his management, judgment, and talent to handle complicated operations on behalf of the United States.
Over 15 years of service, Singh has constructed a profession as a fight engineer and chief in key workers and command positions. He started his profession within the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, the place he served as an assistant brigade engineer and fight engineer platoon chief. He deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in help of Operation Enduring Freedom, main greater than 180 fight patrols to clear routes, enhance base defenses, and assist set up the primary medical facility in Shah Wali Jot Province.
Following his deployment, Singh served because the brigade finance officer for the 2nd Stryker Brigade, making ready the unit’s yearly command finances estimate and serving to allocate $15 million for a National Training Center rotation whereas overseeing monetary help to greater than 20 enabling items.
After finishing the Engineer Captain’s Career Course, Singh was assigned to the 249th Engineer Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, the place he helped plan and execute 23 important nationwide protection deployment missions that ensured steady energy to strategic amenities worldwide. He additionally supported real-world responses to Hurricanes Matthew, Harvey, and Maria and coordinated catastrophe response workout routines with FEMA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters, together with a number of state emergency companies.
Singh later commanded the battalion’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, overseeing the upkeep, cargo and operation of the Army’s solely industrial-scale turbines deployed across the globe. He went on to function an teacher and assistant professor of economics and finance on the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the place he taught future Army officers and contributed to tutorial analysis.
A local of Kent, Washington, Singh is a 2010 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. He additionally holds a Master of Science in engineering administration from Missouri University of Science and Technology, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland and a Master of Operational Studies from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
His awards and decorations embrace the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Service Medal, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, Combat Action Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Ranger Tab.
As he assumes the obligations of his new rank, Singh will proceed serving as deputy commander of the Japan Engineer District, making use of his fight expertise, technical experience, and operational management to help the Army’s missions throughout the area.
Source: U.S.Army