Lt. Col. Darryl W. Kothmann serves as U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District’s Deputy District Commander, a position he has held since July 15, 2024. In this role, he leads engagement with partners and projects in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and coordinates efforts across support staff to accomplish the district’s mission. He also is responsible for military manning requirements and engagements with USACE Headquarters.
Lt. Col. Kothmann was commissioned in the United States Army Reserves out of Georgia Military College on June 10, 2010, and was assigned as a Platoon Leader in the 689th Engineer Company, Orlando, Florida. He completed his studies at the University of South Florida before transferring to active-duty service and being assigned as a Platoon Leader and later as Assistant Brigade Engineer in the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) out of Vicenza, Italy.
He then commanded the 68th Engineer Construction Company, 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, in Fort Cavazos, Texas, followed by assignment as an Advisor Team Leader in 5th Battalion, 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade, also in Fort Cavazos.
Lt. Col. Kothmann also served as Brigade S3 of the 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade and as Battalion S3 of the 9th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, in Fort Stewart, Georgia. During this time, he was also deployed to Poland in support of Operation Assure, Deter, and Reinforce as the Brigade S3. Maj Kothmann deployed to Afghanistan as a combat advisor in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, from 2016 to 2017, and again from 2019 to 2020.
He earned a Master of Sciences Degree in Geological Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, a Master of Arts Degree in Operational Studies from the Command and General Staff College, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of South Florida. Lt. Col. Kothmann is a graduate of the Military Advisor Training Academy, the Sapper Leader Course, the Captains Career Course, and the Officer Basic Course. He also received his Project Management Professional Certification in 2016.
Lt. Col. Kothmann’s military awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal; two Meritorious Service Medals; a Joint Service Commendation Medal; two Army Commendation Medals; two Army Achievement Medals; an Afghanistan Campaign Medal; a Military Parachutist Badge; and a Sapper Tab.