VICKSBURG, Miss. –
Mississippi River Commission member, Brig. Gen. Mark R. Toy, was promoted to the rank of major general by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commanding General and 54th Chief of Engineers Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite July 11 in a ceremony held at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California.
Toy, a native of Huntington Beach, California, also serves as the USACE Great Lakes and Ohio River Division Commander after previously serving as the commander of the South Pacific Division in San Francisco.
“Thank you for your confidence in me to continue my service in our Army. It is an incredible honor to serve during a pivotal time in our history, as we revolutionize the way USACE operates, and focus our efforts on delivering the program, all while taking care of people,” said Toy.
President Barack Obama appointed Toy as a member of the Mississippi River Commission Jan. 12, 2017. Commission appointments are nominated by the President of the United States and vetted by the U.S. Senate.
The Mississippi River Commission was created by an Act of Congress, June 28, 1879, to plan and provide for the general improvement of the entire length of the Mississippi River. This includes improving navigation, preventing destructive floods and facilitating commerce.
The presidential appointees consist of three officers from the USACE, a representative from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and three civilians, two of whom must be civil engineers.
Find out more about the MRC here: http://www.mvd.usace.army.mil/mrc. Like us on Facebook @msrivercomm and Twitter @mississippirivercommission.
Release no. 18-038