Col. Joshua P. Bost was born and raised in Starkville, Mississippi. He assumes command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District after serving as the deputy commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division.
His previous operational assignments include command of the 70th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 11th Airborne Division at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and service as the battalion operations and executive officer for the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and as the brigade operations officer for the 555th Engineer Brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
Col. Bost commanded Company A, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He also served with the 10th Mountain Division staff in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and as the brigade chief of operations with the 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York.
He began his Army career at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, serving as a sapper platoon leader and infantry company executive officer in the 172nd Stryker Brigade and 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Non-operational assignments include service as an aide-de-camp for the Commandant of the Army War College and as a joint strategic plans officer on Pacific Command staff at Camp Smith, Hawaii.
Col. Bost’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, Expert Soldier Badge, Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in history and English from Mississippi State University and holds master’s degrees in public administration from Webster University, national security strategy from the Naval War College and military operational art from the Army Command and General Staff College. His military education includes the Naval War College, the Army Command and General Staff College and the Engineer Captain’s Career and Officer Basic courses.
Col. Bost is married to Christina Bost, and they have three children.