The Army Corps of Engineers has a new commander for its division covering Hawaii, Alaska and other parts of the Pacific. 

Brig. Gen. Richard Stevens took over command of the Pacific Ocean division from Col. Edward Kertis during a ceremony Thursday at Fort Shafter on Oahu.

Stevens was most recently executive officer to the Army chief of staff. 

Kertis is due to deploy to Afghanistan and become the assistant division commander for the Transatlantic Division.

The Pacific Ocean division includes 1,800 military and civilian engineers, technicians and other professionals. 

The command handles engineering design and construction for the Army in Hawaii and the Army and Air Force in Alaska. It also covers all U.S. military branches in Japan, South Korea, and Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.