Lieutenant Colonel Joe M. Sahl assumed command of the Nashville District on July 1, 2021. As Commander and District Engineer, Lt. Col. Sahl manages the water resources development and navigable waterways operations for the Cumberland and Tennessee River basins covering 59,000 square miles, with 42 field offices touching seven states and a work force of over 700 employees. Before assuming command of the Nashville District, Lt. Col. Sahl served as the Deputy Commander of the Jacksonville District from May 2018 to June 2021.
Lt. Col. Sahl received his U.S. Army commission in 2004 from Officer Candidate School and has served in leadership and staff positions in Iraq, Europe, and multiple locations in the United States. Between 2004 and 2007, he was assigned to the 62nd Engineer Battalion, serving as a platoon leader, executive officer, and Assistant Operations Officer, including a deployment to Iraq. From 2007 until 2011, he was assigned to the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, serving as the Task Force Engineer and Assistant Operations Officer in the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 5th Brigade, before taking command of E Company in February of 2008. Following that command, he commanded C Company, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team. He trained and deployed the company in support of OIF 09-10 and then served as the Brigade Engineer until redeployment. From 2012 through 2014, Lt. Col. Sahl served as an Engineer Company and Brigade Engineer Observer/Coach/Trainer at the National Training Center.
From 2015 – 2016, Lt. Col. Sahl served in multiple roles in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District, focused primarily on district operations and Emergency Management, before deploying to Korea and Europe in 2016 as the commander of the 273rd Forward Engineer Support Team – Advanced (FEST-A). Upon redeployment, Lt. Col. Sahl was assigned to the 46th Engineer Battalion at Fort Polk, Louisiana where he served as the battalion Operations Officer and then the Executive Officer.
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Lt. Col. Sahl is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University, earning his bachelor’s degree in 2000, He holds a master’s degree in geological engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology as well as a master’s degree in military studies from the Marine Corps University. He is a graduate of the Army Engineer officer Basic and Advanced Courses and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He is also a certified Project Management Professional.
Lt. Col. Sahl’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2), the Meritorious Service Medal (6), the Army Commendation Medal (4), the Army Achievement Medal (4), the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Army Superior Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal (with four campaign stars), the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Combat Action badge. Lt. Col. Sahl is also a recipient of the Army Engineer Association’s Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal.
Lt. Col. Sahl is married to Kathy and they are the proud parents of two sons, Joey and Cody.