Army Corps of Engineers commander in Little Rock fired

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed the commander of its Little Rock District last week, citing a loss of confidence in his leadership, according to a statement . The decision, announced Jan.

15, was framed by senior leaders as part of a broader effort to hold district commanders accountable for cutting bureaucracy and accelerating civil works projects across the country. The announcement did not identify the commander by name but said that Lt. Col.

Jesse Carter, the district’s deputy commander, will assume the role on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is found. Task and Purpose identified the commander removed as Col. Patrick Caukin, who assumed command of the district in July 2025, according to an announcement on the district’s social media account.

In a statement, Assi