 The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 34,600 civilian and 650 military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency.Although generally associated with dams, canals and flood protection in the United States, USACE is involved in a wide range of public works.The Corps maintained its own fleet of river steamers, derricks, dredges and cranes, all steam powered, for many years.