Colonel Rafael “Pete” Pazos assumed command of the Japan Engineer District on July 8th, 2016. Previously, Colonel Pazos completed Senior Service College at the Inter-American Defense College on Ft McNair, Washington DC. Prior that that, he served as a Human Resource Manager for Engineer, Chemical and Military Police Colonels in the Colonels Management Office, Office of the Chief Staff of the Army.
Colonel Pazos was born in Washington, D.C. and was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers in 1993. Colonel Pazos’ initial assignment was to the Republic of Panama where he served in the 536th Engineer Battalion and the 5th Battalion 87th Infantry as platoon leader and executive officer. He was later assigned to JTF-Bravo in Honduras as the Army Forces engineer. Colonel Pazos was then assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington as the Assistant Secretary of the General Staff for I Corps and later as commander for A Company, 249th Engineer Battalion. After company command, he served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Mobile District stationed in Lima, Peru as the Area Commander for the Andean Ridge Countries.
Colonel Pazos then served in the Republic of Korea as a planner for the 2d Infantry Division, as executive officer for the Division’s Special Troops Battalion, and then as facilities and construction officer for the Eighth U.S. Army. After Korea, he deployed to Iraq as the Deputy Commander for the Gulf Region South District. He then served in Washington D.C. as an Assistant Director for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Directorate. He returned to Korea to command the forward deployed Brigade Special Troops Battalion in the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division.
Colonel Pazos’ degrees include a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech, a Master's Degree in Engineering Management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and a Masters of Military Arts and Science in Theater Operations from the School of Advanced Military Studies. He is a registered professional engineer from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Colonel Pazos has attended the Engineer Officer Basic and Advance Courses, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, the Command and General Staff College Course, the School of Advanced Military Studies and the Inter-American Defense College.
Among his awards Colonel Pazos wears the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and the Air Assault Badge. He is also a recipient of the Army Engineer Association’s Bronze deFleury Medal.