Ms. Deanna J. Prestwood is serving as the Acting Director of the Regional Business Directorate for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division (MVD), and the Mississippi River Commission (MRC). In this role she serves as a senior executive who is relied upon to provide strategic leadership, financial management, technical expertise, and operational oversight of engineering and construction projects. She is the principal advisor to the MVD commander and MRC President on a broad range of mission execution. She leads the delivery of the MVD’s approximately $1.5 billion annual budget, overseeing six districts across the Mississippi Valley. Prestwood directs critical strategic initiatives and ensures the successful implementation of programs across a diverse workforce of 4,700 professionals. Her responsibility encompasses the engineering, design, construction and project management for flood control, navigation, water supply, hydropower and environmental restoration programs spanning 12 states, extending from Canada to the Gulf of America.
Previously, Ms. Prestwood served as the Deputy of the Programs Directorate and Chief of the Civil Works Integration Division at MVD, advising senior leadership on the development, defense, and execution of the Corps’ comprehensive budget. She also served as the Senior Program Manager of the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) program, where she managed a diverse portfolio of environmental, engineering, construction, operations, and maintenance projects. She has held several leadership positions at the Vicksburg District, including Deputy Design Branch Chief, River Engineering Chief, and Channel Improvement Project Manager. Her extensive experience and leadership have made her a respected authority in the field, and she continues to drive success in complex, high-impact engineering programs across the region.
A graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Ms. Prestwood is a licensed professional engineer in Mississippi. She has served in leadership roles with the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), contributing to advancing the engineering profession.