List of United States Army Corps of Engineers Chiefs of Engineers
Rank Name Begin Date End Date
Colonel Gridley , Richard Richard Gridley 1775-06-01 June 1775 1776-04-01 April 1776
Lieutenant colonel Putnam , Rufus Rufus Putnam 1776-04-02 April 1776 1776-12-01 December 1776
Brigadier general Duportail , Louis Lebègue Louis Lebègue Duportail 1777-07-22 22 July 1777 1783-10-10 October , 10 , 1783
Lieutenant colonel Rochefontaine , Stephen Stephen Rochefontaine 1795-02-26 26 February 1795 1798-05-07 7 May 1798
Major Burbeck , Henry Henry Burbeck 1798-05-07 7 May 1798 1802-04-01 1 April 1802
Colonel Williams , Jonathan Jonathan Williams 1802-04-01 1 April 1802 1803-06-20 20 June 1803
Colonel Williams , Jonathan Jonathan Williams 1805-04-19 19 April 1805 1812-07-31 31 July 1812
Colonel Swift , Joseph Gardner Joseph Gardner Swift 1812-07-31 31 July 1812 1818-11-12 12 November 1818
Colonel Armistead , Walker Keith Walker Keith Armistead 1818-11-12 12 November 1818 1821-06-01 1 June 1821
Colonel Macomb , Alexander Alexander Macomb 1821-06-01 1 June 1821 1828-05-24 24 May 1828
Colonel Gratiot , Charles Charles Gratiot 1828-05-24 24 May 1828 1838-12-06 6 December 1838
Colonel Totten , Joseph Gilbert Joseph Gilbert Totten 1838-12-06 6 December 1838 1864-04-22 22 April 1864
Brigadier general Delafield , Richard Richard Delafield 1864-04-22 22 April 1864 1866-08-08 8 August 1866
Brigadier general Humphreys , Andrew Atkinson Andrew A. Humphreys 1866-08-08 8 August 1866 1879-06-30 30 June 1879
Brigadier general Wright , Horatio Gouverneur Horatio Gouverneur Wright 1879-06-30 30 June 1879 1884-03-06 6 March 1884
Brigadier general Newton , John John Newton 1884-03-06 6 March 1884 1886-08-27 27 August 1886
Brigadier general Duane , James Chatham James Chatham Duane 1886-10-11 11 October 1886 1888-06-30 30 June 1888
Brigadier general Casey , Thomas Lincoln Thomas Lincoln Casey 1888-07-06 6 July 1888 1895-05-10 10 May 1895
Brigadier general Craighill , William Price William Price Craighill 1895-05-10 10 May 1895 1897-02-01 1 February 1897
Brigadier general Wilson , John Moulder John Moulder Wilson 1897-02-01 1 February 1897 1901-04-30 30 April 1901
Chiefs of Engineers
The Chief of Engineers is a principal United States Army staff officer at The Pentagon. The Chief advises the Army on engineering matters, and serves as the Army's topographer and proponent for real estate and other related engineering programs. The Chief of Engineers is the senior service engineer for the Department of Defense, responsible for integrating all aspects of combat, general and geospatial engineering across the Joint Force. The Chief of Engineers also commands the United States Army Corps of Engineers. As commander of the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Chief of Engineers leads a major Army command that is the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency. This office defines policy and guidance, and it plans direction for the organizations within the Corps. The Chief of Engineers currently holds the rank of lieutenant general but in the past has been ranked as low as major. Civilian oversight of the Chief of Engineers is provided by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works).