HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A new man is now charge of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District.

Col. Robert Peterson transferred command of the District to Col. Steven McGugan during a ceremony Friday at Huntington City Hall.

Col. Peterson assumed command of the Huntington District on July 29, 2009.

Col. McGugan graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering/Construction Management from North Carolina State University in 1989.

His military education includes the Engineer Officer’s Basic Course, the Infantry Officer’s Advanced Course; the Combined Arms Service Staff School; the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College.

Awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and two oak leaf clusters, the Defense Meritorious Serve Medal, the Meritorious Serve Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, the Operation Iraqi Freedom with two Bronze Stars, the Operation Enduring Freedom Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, the Global War on Terror ism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Saudi Arabian and Kuwait Liberation Medals, and the Joint Meritorious, Valorous, Meritorious and Superior Unit Awards, the Ranger Tab, the Master Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge.

As the District Commander, he is responsible for carrying out the District’s mission within the Ohio River Basin including navigation on 311 miles of the Ohio River, along with the tributary rivers and drainage basins covering 45,000 square miles in parts of five states, including West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina.