Corps of Engineer general who ordered levee breach assigned to D.C.

A change of command for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Mississippi Valley Division is coming next week.

According to a corps news release, Maj. Gen. Michael J. Walsh will transfer command of the division to Maj. Gen. John W. Peabody on Thursday.

The quarterly newsletter of the corps said Walsh will become deputy commanding general for civil and emergency operations in Washington, D.C. Walsh has served as commander of the division and president of the Mississippi River Commission since February 2008. He gave the order for the May detonations of the Birds Point levee along the Mississippi River during spring flooding.

Peabody is moving into the post after serving as the commander and division engineer of the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division. He will also serve as president-designee of the Mississippi River Commission.