Todd T. Semonite

Todd Thurston Semonite (born May 29, 1957) was the 54th chief of engineers of the United States Army and the commanding general of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Semonite graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and was commissioned into the Army Corps of Engineers in 1979. He also holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Vermont and a Master of Military Art and Science from the United States Army Command and General Staff College.[1][2]

Todd T. Semonite
Born (1957-05-29) May 29, 1957
Bellows Falls, Vermont, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1979–2020
RankLieutenant General
Commands heldUnited States Army Corps of Engineers
South Atlantic Division
North Atlantic Division
130th Engineer Brigade
23rd Engineer Battalion
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (5)
Bronze Star Medal

U.S.-Mexico border wall

During a September 2019 visit to a new section of border wall near San Diego, President Donald Trump said the wall was "wired so that we will know if somebody’s trying to break through." When Trump was asked to provide reporters with further details, Semonite cautioned him, "Sir, there could be some merit in not discussing that."[3]

2020 COVID-19 pandemic response

In March 2020, Semonite gave the Pentagon briefing on how the US military would initiate and lead an effort to lease a large number of facilities nationwide in hotels and in larger open buildings to increase the number of rooms and beds with ICU capability for the COVID-19 pandemic. USACE handles leasing and engineering, with contracts for rapid facility modification and setup to local contractors. The plan envisions that the facilities' operation and the provision of medical staff will be handled entirely by the various states rather than the federal government.[4]

References
  1. Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy. 1984.
  2. "Lieutenant General Todd T. Semonite". US Army Corps of Engineers. June 5, 2018. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  3. Moran, Lee (September 19, 2019). "General Tells Donald Trump To Keep Quiet About 'Wired' Border Wall And Tweeters Go Loud". HuffPost Politics. Verizon Media. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  4. "USACE Support to COVID-19 Response". www.usace.army.mil. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
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