Major General Kent J. Lightner serves as the Commanding General, 412th Theater Engineer Command, since June 2026.
His previous assignments include Deputy Commanding General – Reserve Affairs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington DC.; Deputy Commanding General – Support, 81st Readiness Division, US Army Reserve, Fort Jackson, SC; Deputy Commanding General – Operations, 412th Theater Engineer Command, Vicksburg, MS; Chief of Staff, 416th Theater Engineer Command, Darien, IL; Commander, 420th Engineer Brigade, Bryan, TX; Chief of Staff, 87th Training Division, Birmingham, AL; Commander, US. Army Corps of Engineers Contingency Response Unit (CRU), Washington D.C.; Deputy Chief of Staff, G5 (Plans), 416th Theater Engineer Command; Engineer Staff Officer, TCEM, Headquarters, U.S. Southern Command, Doral, FL; Commander, 463rd Engineer Battalion, Wheeling, WV; Assistant G3 Operations Officer, 416th Theater Engineer Command; Operations Officer (S3), 389th Engineer Battalion, Dubuque, IA; Assistant G5 Plans Officer, 416 Theater Engineer Command; Director, National Reconstruction Operations Center, Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division, Baghdad, Iraq; Construction Officer (Electrical FCCME), 733rd Facilities Engineer Detachment, Leavenworth, KS; Team Chief, 1-347th Battalion (Training Support), Fort Gillem, GA; Commander, Charlie Company, 16th Engineer Battalion (Mechanized), Giessen, Germany; Engineer Officer, 1-4th Infantry Battalion (OPFOR), Hohenfels, Germany; Plans Officer, Theater Support Brigade, U.S. Army South, Fort Clayton, Panama; Horizontal Platoon Leader, 518th Engineer Company (Heavy), Fort Kobe, Panama; Horizontal Platoon Leader, Bravo Company, 536th Engineer Battalion (Heavy), Fort Kobe, Panama; Bridge Platoon Leader, 50th Engineer Company (Assault Float Bridge), Camp La Guardia, Korea.
Major General Lightner was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in December 1993 through the Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, ROTC program, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics. He also earned a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri, Rolla, MO, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Six Sigma Black Belt. He is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic Course, the Engineer Officer Advanced Course, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Army Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, the Joint and Combined Warfighter School, the Senior Leader Development Seminar, ASEP-C, and CAPSTONE.
His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (1-OLC), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (7-OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4-OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2-OLC), Combat Action Badge, Ranger Tab, Parachutists Badge, and Air Assault Badge.
Major General Lightner grew up in Costa Rica and currently lives in Tampa, FL, with his wife and their three children. He is the National Director of Financial Services Operations at The Baldwin Group, a publicly traded, national top 20 insurance brokerage and financial services firm. He enjoys traveling, reading, and outdoor activities.