Lieutenant Colonel Ryan A. Baum is the 63rd USACE Philadelphia District Commander. District missions include dredging waterways for navigation, protecting communities from flooding and coastal storms, responding to natural and declared disasters, regulating construction in the nation’s waters and wetlands, remediating environmental hazards, restoring ecosystems, building facilities for the Army and Air Force, and providing engineering, contracting and project management services for other government agencies upon request. Established in 1866, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District encompasses the 13,000-square-mile Delaware River Basin and the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey’s Manasquan Inlet to the Delaware-Maryland line. Within its boundaries are more than ten million people in five states.
Baum is originally from Carlisle, PA. He commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the engineer regiment from Drexel University ROTC in 2007. He began his career with the 7th Engineer Battalion, Fort Drum, New York, where he served as a platoon leader in the 630th Engineer Company and deployed to Afghanistan in support Operation Enduring Freedom. Baum later served as the executive officer of the 642nd Engineer Support Company while deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following the Infantry Captain’s Career Course, Baum was assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii where he commanded both the 66th Engineer Company and Headquarters Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. Upon completion of graduate school and the Command and General Staff College, Baum served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District, as a deputy district commander. LTC Baum was then assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado where he served as the Battalion Operations officer of the 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion and the brigade executive officer of 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, where he deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Most Recently, Baum served as the deputy engineering division chief for the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, Fort Belvoir, Va.
Baum’s education includes a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University. He is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Missouri. His military education includes Ranger Leader Course, Sapper Leader Course, Air Assault School, Airborne School, and Winter Mountain Warfare School.
Baum is married and has three children.