Chief of Ordnance of the United States Army

Last updated
Chief of Ordnance of the United States Army
Ordnance Corps Regimental Insignia.gif
United States Army Ordnance Corps Regimental Insignia
Incumbent
Steven Allen
since July 6, 2023
FormationMay 14, 1812
First holderCOL Decius Wadsworth
Website Official website

The Chief of Ordnance of the United States Army is a general officer who is responsible for the Army Ordnance Corps and serves as the Commandant of the U.S. Army Ordnance School at Fort Gregg-Adams. The Chief of Ordnance is primarily focused on the doctrine, training, and professional development of Ordnance officers and soldiers. The position was created simultaneously with the establishment of the United States Army Ordnance Department on May 14, 1812.

Contents

History

18th century

The American Revolution established the general outlines of the future Ordnance Department. The Continental Congress' Board for War and Ordnance created the Commissary General for Military Stores to establish and operate ordnance facilities in an effort to alleviate the dependence on foreign arms and munitions. Colonel Benjamin Flower led the Commissary from his appointment in January 1775 until his death in May 1781. Ordnance facilities were established at Springfield Armory, Massachusetts and Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania for the production of arms, powder, and shot. After the war, the logistic elements were disbanded and the authority for procurement and provision of all things military was transferred to the Office of the Purveyor of Public Supplies located within the Treasury Department. [1]

19th century

By the dawn of the War of 1812, the Secretary of War recognized the need for a distinct branch to manage the procurement, research, and maintenance of Ordnance materiel. Decius Wadsworth, previously superintendent of West Point, was appointed a Colonel and given the title Commissary General of Ordnance, later changed to Chief of Ordnance. His ambition, during the war years and afterward, was to simplify and streamline Ordnance materiel management. His staff worked to reduce the variety of small arms and artillery pieces to a few efficient models. In addition, he aimed to develop a cadre of highly trained Ordnance officers who could dedicate their inventive ingenuity to their profession. [2]

20th century

Between 1906 and 1915 Chief of Ordnance Brig. Gen. William Crozier attempted to introduce scientific management systems into his department. With industrial productivity receiving national attention through the efforts of Frederick Winslow Taylor and others, Crozier sought favorable comparisons with private industry in his Congressional relations. Strikes at the Watertown Arsenal and Rock Island Arsenal limited the use of time studies and piece rates in the department, but at Springfield Arsenal a century's development of piece rates precluded the need for such studies or conflict. New Armory practices borrowed or influenced by Taylorism included centralized planning for better routing of tasks and components, improved accounting systems for tools and raw materials, introduction of high-speed tool steels, and reorganization of shop floors. By 1915, Armory managers also obtained substantial amounts of new equipment and completed direct rail links from the Armories to trunk lines. Better on-site transportation, along with increased use of electrical power and rebuilt power transmission systems, removed most of the Armory's long-standing geographic and power supply limitations. Capital improvements, and new accounting practices to control manufacturing materials purchases, had significant effects in reducing production costs, but still left the Army with a limited capacity to respond to a major conflict. [3] But Crozier had problems obtaining budget too. [4]

Ordnance Department supply failures during the first months of formal American involvement in the First World War cost Crozier his job, despite several attempts at wholesale departmental reorganization along functional lines with decentralized districts. In part by delegating more authority to district civilian managers, Crozier's successor, Maj. Gen. Clarence C. Williams (Chief of Ordnance, 1918-30), succeeded in gaining on ordnance supply problems as the war ended, by which time the department's reputation remained clouded. [3]

Following the massive reorganization of the Army in 1962 based on the Hoelscher Committee Report, the Ordnance Corps and the office of the Chief of Ordnance was disestablished. The Ordnance branch continued under the direction of the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics. Army Materiel Command assumed responsibility for many of the Ordnance Corps historical functions; research, development, procurement, production, storage and technical intelligence. [2]

In 1985, the Ordnance Corps became the first of the Army's support elements to re-establish itself under the branch regimental concept. The Office of the Chief of Ordnance was reestablished and regained responsibility for decisions concerning personnel, force structure, doctrine, and training. This change gave the opportunity for Ordnance officers, soldiers, and civilians to identify with their historical predecessors in their mission of Ordnance support to the U.S. Army. [2]

21st century

In accordance with the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission, the U.S. Army Ordnance School and the Chief of Ordnance moved from Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland to Fort Lee, Virginia.

In Fiscal Year 2024, all sustainment commandants were reduced on the Tables of Distributions and Allowances (TDA). The Chief of Ordnance was reduced from brigadier general to colonel. The current Chief of Ordnance is Colonel Robin (Rob) Montgomery.

List of Army Chiefs of Ordnance

NamePhotoTerm beganTerm ended
1.Colonel Decius Wadsworth
Decius Wadsworth.jpg
July 2, 1812June 1, 1821
2.Colonel George Bomford
BomfordGeorge.jpg
May 30, 1832March 25, 1848
3.Brevet Brigadier General George Talcott
George Talcott (cropped).jpg
March 25, 1848July 10, 1851
4.Colonel Henry K. Craig
Henry K. Craig (cropped).jpg
July 10, 1851April 23, 1861
5.Brevet Brigadier General James Wolfe Ripley
James Wolfe Ripley, 1794-1870, artist unknown - Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History - DSC04185.JPG
April 23, 1861September 15, 1863
6.Brigadier General George D. Ramsay
George D. Ramsay (cropped).jpg
September 15, 1863September 12, 1864
7.Brevet Major General Alexander B. Dyer
ABDyer.jpg
September 12, 1864May 20, 1874
8.Brigadier General Stephen Vincent Benet
Stephen Vincent Benet (Army General).jpg
June 23, 1874January 22, 1891
9.Brigadier General Daniel W. Flagler
Daniel Webster Flagler.jpg
January 23, 1891March 29, 1899
10.Brigadier General Adelbert R. Buffington
Adelbert Buffington.jpg
April 5, 1899November 22, 1901
11.Brigadier General William Crozier
William Crozier.jpg
November 22, 1901December 19, 1917
ActingBrigadier General Charles B. Wheeler
Charles B. Wheeler (US Army brigadier general) 2.jpg
20 December 191719 April 1918
ActingBrigadier General William S. Peirce
111-SC-8652 - NARA - 55177790-cropped.jpg
19 April 19182 May 1918
12.Major General Clarence C. Williams
Clarence C. Williams (cropped).jpg
May 2, 1918April 1, 1930
ActingBrigadier General Colden Ruggles
Brig. Gen. C. L'H. Ruggles (US Army officer).jpg
April 2, 1930June 2, 1930
13.Major General Samuel Hof
Samuel Hof.jpg
June 3, 1930June 2, 1934
14.Major General William H. Tschappat
William H. Tschappat (cropped).jpg
June 3, 1934June 2, 1938
15.Major General Charles M. Wesson
MG Charles M. Wesson.jpg
June 3, 1938May 3, 1942
16.Major General Levin H. Campbell Jr.
Levin H. Campbell Jr.jpg
June 1, 1942May 31, 1946
17.Major General Everett S. Hughes
Lieutenant general Everett Hughes 1945.jpg
June 1, 1946October 31, 1949
18.Major General Elbert L. Ford
Elbert L. Ford (cropped).jpg
November 1, 1949October 31, 1953
19.Lieutenant General Emerson L. Cummings
Emerson L. Cummings.jpg
November 1, 1953April 2, 1958
20.Lieutenant General John H. Hinrichs
John Honeycutt Hinrichs.jpg
April 2, 1958May 31, 1962
21.Major General Horace F. Bigelow
Horace F. Bigelow (cropped).jpg
June 1, 1962July 31, 1962
22.Major General William E. Potts
Major General William E. Potts (cropped).jpg
October 28, 1985June 13, 1986
23.Major General Leon E. Salomon
Leon E Salomon.jpg
June 13, 1986August 12, 1988
24.Major General James W. Ball
Major General James W. Ball.jpg
August 12, 1988July 13, 1990
25.Brigadier General Johnnie E. Wilson
Johnnie E Wilson.jpg
July 13, 1990June 30, 1992
26.Major General John G. Coburn
John G Coburn.jpg
June 30, 1992June 20, 1994
27.Major General James W. Monroe
Major General James W. Monroe.jpg
June 20, 1994August 11, 1995
28.Major General Robert D. Shadley
Major General Robert D. Shadley.jpg
August 11, 1995July 10, 1997
29.Brigadier General Thomas R. Dickinson
Thomas R. Dickinson.jpg
July 10, 1997September 18, 1998
30.Major General Dennis K. Jackson
Major General Dennis K. Jackson.jpg
October 20, 1998July 25, 2000
31.Major General Mitchell H. Stevenson
Major General Mitchell Stevenson (cropped).jpg
July 25, 2000August 15, 2003
32.Brigadier General William M. Lenaers
Brigadier General william M. Lenaers (cropped).jpg
August 15, 2003September 10, 2004
33.Major General Vincent E. Boles
Vincent E. Boles.jpg
September 10, 2004October 30, 2006
34.Brigadier General Rebecca S. Halstead
Rebecca S. Halstead.jpg
October 30, 2006June 26, 2008
35.Brigadier General Lynn A. Collyar
Lynn A. Collyar.png
June 26, 2008July 29, 2010
36.Brigadier General Clark W. LeMasters Jr.
Clark W. LeMasters Jr. (2).jpg
July 29, 2010March 21, 2012
37.Brigadier General Edward M. Daly
Edward M. Daly (1).jpg
June 12, 2012May 17, 2013
38.Brigadier General John F. Haley
John F. Haley.jpg
May 17, 2013June 12, 2015
39Brigadier General Kurt J. Ryan
Kurt J. Ryan.jpg
July 10, 2015June 1, 2016
40Brigadier General David Wilson
David Wilson.jpg
August 10, 2016May 8, 2018
41Brigadier General Heidi J. Hoyle
Heidi J. Hoyle.jpg
May 8, 2018May 21, 2020
42Brigadier General Michelle M.T. Letcher
Michelle M.T. Letcher (US Army brigadier general).jpg
June 16, 2020June 21, 2021
43Brigadier General Michael B. Lalor Michael B. Lalor (4).jpg July 13, 2021July 6, 2023
44Brigadier General Steven L. Allen Steven L. Allen (5).jpg July 6, 2023June 4, 2024
45Colonel Robin (Rob) Montgomery Robin (Rob) Montgomery (US Army Chief of Ordnance).jpg June 5, 2024Present

Acting Chiefs

The following individuals have served as acting Chief of Ordnance: [5]

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References

  1. Sterling, Keir Brooks (1987). Serving the Line with Excellence: The development of the US Army Ordnance Corps, as expressed through the lives of its chiefs of ordnance, 1812-1987, with a short sketch of the history of Army Ordnance, 1775-1987. Army Ordnance Center and Schools: TRADOC Historical Studies.
  2. 1 2 3 "The History of Ordnance in America". Army Sustainment Magazine. 44 (3): 6–16.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  3. 1 2 Raber, Michael S.; Malone, Patrick M.; Gordon, Robert B.; Cooper, Carolyn C.; Colton, Richard (August 1989). CONSERVATIVE INNOVATORS AND MILITARY SMALL ARMS: AN INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY, 1794-1968 (PDF). U.S. Department of the Interior via National Park Service.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Federal government of the United States .
  4. "Events and Economics of the War" (PDF). Engineering and Mining Journal. McGraw-Hill: 487. 15 September 1917.
  5. "Chiefs of Ordnance". Go Ordnance.army.mil. Ft. Lee, VA: U.S. Army Ordnance School. Retrieved August 8, 2020.

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army .

Bibliography