Engineering Challenges in Afghanistan

LTC Michael J. Rounds is a native of Andover, Minnesota. He was commissioned a
Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers from the US Military Academy in 1988. He holds a
Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace) from West Point and a Masters
Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. His military education includes
completion of the Engineer Officer Basic Course, the M1A1 Tank Commanders Certification Course,
the Armor Officer Advanced Course, the Joint Officer Planning Course, the Army Command and
General Staff College, Ranger school, Airborne school, and Air Assault school.

LTC Rounds has served in a variety of engineer command and staff positions during his 22 year career
in the Army. He has served with the 1st Infantry Division in Germany, the 1st Cavalry Division in
Texas, and the 101st Airborne Division in Kentucky and Iraq. He has also served as an engineer
observer/controller at the National Training Center in California and on the Combined Forces engineer
staff in Korea.

LTC Rounds served two tours as a faculty member at the US Military Academy in the Department of
Civil and Mechanical Engineering, West Point, NY. He taught courses in Thermodynamics, Fluid
Mechanics, Heat Transfer, and Mechanical Engineering Design and served as the Mechanical
Engineering Design Group Director and Department Executive Officer.

From March 2009 -- March 2010, LTC Rounds was in charge of the US Army Corps of Engineers
Bagram Area Office at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. While assigned to Bagram, he supervised
over $800M of construction at the airfield and in 4 surrounding provinces.

LTC Rounds is currently serving as the Deputy Commandant of the US Military Academy Preparatory
School at Fort Monmouth, NJ.

LTC Rounds' military awards include the Bronze Star Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense
Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation
Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal (1 Bronze
Service Star), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, Ranger Tab, Airborne Wings, and
Air Assault Wings. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Virginia.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Engineering
• Afghanistan
• Villanova University
• Rounds
• Army
• Corps of Engineers