COL David W. Dake is the commander and district engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District, a position he has held since July 29, 2025. He leads a water resource district with an authorized strength of more than 600 civilian and military professionals and project authorizations totaling more than $7.4 billion.
The Galveston District provides construction, navigation, environmental restoration, flood risk management, shoreline protection, regulatory, and emergency management services for an area of responsibility that spans the Texas coast from Louisiana to Mexico, encompassing 50,000 square miles. As the commander and district engineer, the colonel is charged with executing the Galveston District’s mission of providing public engineering services to strengthen security along the Texas coast, energizing the local economy, and reducing risks from disasters.
Before arriving at the Galveston District, Dake completed a U.S. Army War College Fellowship at the United States Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C. Prior to that he served as the military assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army IE&E, at the Pentagon, in Washington D.C.
Dake has served in a variety of tactical leadership positions from platoon leader to Company and battalion commander in combat engineering and construction engineering. As well as numerous operational command and staff assignments from brigade, to Department of the Army headquarters, combatant command levels, and USACE positions. He is a joint qualified officer who has served overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan, Europe, and Africa.
Dake has a master’s degree from Georgia Tech in construction management and facility planning. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from Webster University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Georgia Southern University. His military education includes the Army Engineer Officer Basic Course, the Army Engineer Officer Advanced Course, the Army Command and General Staff College, the Joint Engineer Operations Course, the Joint and Combined Warfighter School, and the U.S. Army Airborne School. Dake is also an alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Seminar XXI fellowship program for national security professionals.
COL Dake’s awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit; the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters; and the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster along with several other campaign and service awards. He is authorized to wear the Combat Action Badge, the Army Basic Parachutist Badge, the Presidential Unit Citation, a Meritorious Unit Citation, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and the Army Staff Identification Badge. He is also the recipient of the U.S. Army Engineer Regiment’s Bronze Order of the De Fleury Medal, the U.S. Army Field Artillery Association’s Honorable Order of Saint Barbara Medal, and the U.S. Cavalry and Armor Association’s Noble Patron of Armor Medallion.