United States Army Engineer School

Last updated
United States Army Engineer School (USAES)
EngSchCrest101transbg3.png
Active1778 – present
Country Flag of the United States.svg United States
AllegianceUnited States Department of the Army Seal.svg United States Army
Branch Regular Army
TypeTRADOC school
RoleGenerate military engineer capabilities for the U.S. Army
Garrison/HQFort Leonard Wood
Motto(s)Essayons (Let Us Try)
ColorsScarlet and White
Commanders
CommandantColonel Stephen Kolouch
Command Sergeant MajorCSM Zachary Plummer

The United States Army Engineer School (USAES) is located at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. It was founded as a School of Engineering by General Headquarters Orders, Valley Forge on 9 June 1778. [1] The U.S. Army Engineer School provides training that develops a wide variety of engineering skills including: combat engineer, bridging, construction, geospatial, topography, diving, and firefighting.

Contents

USAES defines its mission as:

Synchronize and integrate the Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leader Development, Personnel, and Facilities (DOTMLPF) domains to ensure the Engineer Regiment is prepared to provide engineer support now and into the future. [2]

History

As with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Engineer School traces its roots to the American Revolution. General Headquarters Orders, Valley Forge, dated 9 June 1778 read "3 Captains and 9 Lieutenants are wanted to officer the Company of Sappers. As the Corps will be a SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, it opens a prospect to such gentlemen as enter it...." Shortly after the publishing of the order, the "school" moved to the river fortifications at West Point. With the end of the war and the mustering out of the Army, the school closed. However, the Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers was constituted a military school and was reopened at the same location in 1794. For four years it constituted a school of application for new engineers and artillerymen. Closing in 1798, due to a fire which destroyed many facilities, the engineers were without a school for three years.

In 1801, the War Department revived the school, and Major Jonathan Williams became its superintendent. Less than a year later, Congress authorized the Corps of Engineers and constituted it at West Point as a military academy. For the next 64 years, the Military Academy was under the supervision of the Corps. Although the curriculum was heavily laced with engineering subjects, the Academy commissioned officers into all branches of the service. Following the American Civil War (1861–1865), supervision of the Academy passed to the War Department.

When the Engineer Battalion took station at the Fort at Willets Point (later renamed Fort Totten) in 1866, Engineer leaders saw the opportunity to develop a school oriented exclusively to engineers. From 1868 to 1885, an informal School of Application existed; its first commander was Major Henry Larcom Abbot, who developed the Army's first modern underwater minefield system there. Part of this effort involved the creation of the Essayons Club. This was an informal group which met during the winter months and presented professional engineer papers. In 1885, the School of Application received formal recognition by the War Department. In 1890, the name was changed to United States Engineer School.

In 1901, the School moved from Willets Point to Washington Barracks in Washington, D.C., and was renamed the Engineer School of Application. This name lasted only a few years. In 1904, the name was changed back to the Engineer School. The Engineer School remained at Washington Barracks for the next 19 years, although it closed from time to time because of a shortage of officers, or national emergencies. In 1909, certain courses associated with the field army moved to Ft. Leavenworth, and the Army Field Engineer School opened in 1910. That school, a part of the Army Service Schools, closed in 1916. The First World War forced a closing of the Engineer School as the instructors and students were needed to officer the expanding engineer force. The school resumed its instruction in 1920, but at a different location. Washington Barracks was transferred to the General Staff College and the Engineer School moved to Camp A. A. Humphreys, south of Mount Vernon, in Virginia. This was a World War I camp built on land acquired by the War Department in 1912. The original name for the tract was Belvoir. In 1935, Camp Humphreys was renamed Fort Belvoir. [3]

After 68 years, in 1988, the home of the Engineer School was moved to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri "due to a shortage of land for training at Fort Belvoir" [3] The move also allowed engineer training of officers, warrant officers and enlisted to be conducted in the same location. [4]

USAES and Engineer Regiment symbology.

EngSchCrest101transbg3.png

The distinctive insignia for the U.S. Army Engineer School was approved by the War Department on June 27, 1929. It had been used on diplomas and stationery since 1924. Scarlet and white are the colors of the Engineers. Scarlet represents the shared heritage with the Artillery. From 1794 to 1802, the Engineers were part of the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers. White is the traditional color of the Infantry. Its use on the shield reflects the Engineers’ secondary mission of fighting as infantry. Above the shield is the “Lamp of Knowledge”. The lamps represents the Engineer Schools mission to train and educate. [5]

Under the shield is the motto of the Engineers-Essayons. It is a French term which means “Let us strive”, “Let us try”. The use of this term reflects the contributions of French Engineers to the Nation’s struggle for independence and the influence of the French Engineers on the early development of the Corps.

Castle-gold.jpg

The castle symbolizes the classical role of Engineers as those who build fortifications and those who breach their walls. The castle has been used by the Corps since 1840, when it was adopted as a device on the uniform of the Cadets of the United States Military Academy.

Organization

The U.S. Army Engineer School is composed of Headquarters staff, the Directorate of Training and Leader Development, the Directorate Of Environmental Protection and Management, 1st Engineer Brigade, the Counter Explosive Hazards Center and the Engineer Personnel Development Office.

Visual representation of the U.S. Army Engineer School structure Org chart 2.jpg
Visual representation of the U.S. Army Engineer School structure

Command

As of 2024, the Commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer School is Colonel Stephen Kolouch. The Regimental Command Sergeant Major is CSM Zachary Plummer. The Regimental Chief Warrant Officer is CW5 Willie Gadsden Jr.

Commandants

ImageNamePeriod of Office
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel Jonathan Williams 1802–1812
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Brigadier General Joseph Gardner Swift 1812–1817
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Brigadier General Sylvanus Thayer 1817–1833
US ARMY BG.gif
Brigadier General Rene' E. De Russy 1833–1838
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Major General Richard Delafield 1838–1845 & 1856–1861
US ARMY BG.gif
Brigadier General Henry Brewerton 1845–1852
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel Robert Edward Lee 1852–1855
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General John G. Barnard 1855–1856
US ARMY CPT.gif
Captain Pierre G. T. Beauregard 1861
US ARMY LTC.gif
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander H. Bowman 1861–1864
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General Zealous B. Tower 1864
US ARMY BG.gif
Brigadier General George Washington Cullum 1864–1866
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major James C. Duane 1866–1868
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major Henry Larcum Abbot1868–1886
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major Cyrus B. Comstock 1886–1887
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major William R. King1887–1895
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major William T. Rossell 1895
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major John G. D. Knight1895–1901
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major William M. Black1901–1903
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major Edward Burr 1903–1906
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major Eben Eveleth Winslow 1906–1907
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major William Campbell Langfitt 1907–1910
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major William Jones Barden1910–1913
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major Joseph Ernst Kuhn1913–1914
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major William Preston Wooten1914–1916
US ARMY MAJ.gif
Major Gustave Rudolph Lukesh1916
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General Mason Mathews Patrick 1916–1917 & 1921
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel William Wright Harts 1917
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel Henry Jervey 1917
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel Frederic Vaughn Abbot1917–1918
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel Richard Park1918
US ARMY BG.gif
Brigadier General Charles William Kutz1918
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel Jay Johnson Morrow 1919
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General Clement A. F. Flagler 1919–1920
US ARMY BG.gif
Brigadier General William Durward Connor 1920
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel Meriwether Lewis Walker 1920–1921
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General Mason M. Patrick 1921
James A. Woodruff (1).jpg
Colonel James Albert Woodruff 1921–1924
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel Harry Burgess 1924
Sherwood A. Cheney (2).jpg
Colonel Sherwood Alfred Cheney 1924–1925
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel Edward Murphy Markham 1925–1929
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel Edward Hugh Schulz1929–1933
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel George Redfield Spalding1933–1935
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel Laurance V. Frazier1935–1936
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel Julian Larcombe Schley 1936–1937
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Colonel Thomas Mathew Robins1938–1939
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel James Alexander O'Connor1939–1940
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Brigadier General Roscoe Campbell Crawford1940–1943
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Colonel Xenophon Herbert Price1943–1944
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Brigadier General Edwin H. Marks1944
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Brigadier General Gordon Russell Young1944
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Brigadier General Dwight Frederick Johns 1944–1945
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Brigadier General Patrick Henry Timothy Jr.1936–1937
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General Francis B. Wilby 1945–1946
US ARMY COL.gif
Colonel Willis Edward Teale1946–1947
US ARMY MG.gif Major General William Morris Hoge Jr. 1947–1948
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General Douglas Lafayette Weart 1948–1951
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General Stanley Lonzo Scott1951
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General A. W. Pence1951–1954 (Died in office)
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Major General Louis W. Prentiss1954–1956
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Major General David H. Tulley1956–1958
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General Gerald E. Galloway1958–1960
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General Walter K. Wilson Jr. 1960–1961
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Major General Stephen R. Hanmer1961–1962
Lawrence J. Lincoln.jpg
Major General Lawrence J. Lincoln 1962–1963
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General William F. Cassidy 1963–1965
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General Frederick J. Clarke 1965–1966
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General Robert F. Seedlock1966–1967
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General Arthur William Oberbeck1968
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General George H. Walker1968–1969
US ARMY MG.gif
Major General William C. Gribble Jr. 1969–1970
MG Robert R Ploger.jpg
Major General Robert R. Ploger1970–1973
MG Harold R Parfitt.jpg
Major General Harold R. Parfitt 1973–1975
MG James A Johnson.jpg
Major General James A. Johnson 1975–1977
MG James L Kelly.jpg
Major General James L. Kelly1977–1980
MG Max W Noah.jpg
Major General Max W. Noah 1980–1982
MG James Neal Ellis.jpg
Major General James Neal Ellis1982–1984
MG Richard S Kem.jpg
Major General Richard S. Kem 1984–1987
MG William H Reno.jpg
Major General William H. Reno 1987–1988
MG Daniel R Schroeder.jpg
Major General Daniel R. Schroeder 1988–1991
MG Daniel W Christman.jpg
Major General Daniel W. Christman 1991–1993
MG Joe N Ballard.jpg
Major General Joe N. Ballard 1993–1995
MG Clai F Gill.jpg
Major General Clair F. Gill 1995–1997
MG Robert B Flowers.jpg
Major General Robert B. Flowers 1997–2000
MG Anders B Aadland.jpg
Major General Anders B. Aadland2000–2002
MG Robert Van Antwerp.jpg
Major General Robert L. Van Antwerp Jr. 2002–2004
MG Randal Castro.jpg
Major General Randal Castro2004–2006
MG William H McCoy.jpg
Major General William H. McCoy2006–2007
BG Gregg Martin.jpg
Brigadier General Gregg Martin2007–2008
COL Robert A Tipton.jpg
Colonel Robert A. Tipton2008–2009
BG Bryan G Watson.jpg
Brigadier General Bryan G. Watson2009–2011
BG Peter(Duke) A DeLuca.jpg
Brigadier General Peter “Duke” DeLuca2011–2013
BG Anthony C Funkhouser.jpg
Brigadier General Anthony C. Funkhouser2013-2015
BG RAYMER sm.jpg
Brigadier General James H. Raymer2015 - 2017
BG ROBERT WHITTLE-OCP.jpg
Brigadier General Robert F. Whittle Jr.2017 - 2019
Mark C. Quander (3).jpg
Brigadier General Mark Quander2019 - 2021
HIBNER-2.jpg
Colonel Daniel H. Hibner2021–2022
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COLONEL JOSEPH C. “CLETE” GOETZ II2022-2024
KOLOUCH AGSU (002).jpg
COLONEL STEPHEN J. KOLOUCH 2024-present

Regimental Command Sergeants Major

ImageNamePeriod of Office
SGM Frederick W. Gerber1867–1875
SGM A.M. Wagner1961–1962
SGM G.F. Humphreys1962–1964
SGM M.H. Philips1964–1966
SGM A.M. WagnerJan-Mar 1966
SGM M.H. Philips1966-1968
SGM Harry W. DawsonMar-Jul 1968
CSM Griffith A. Jones1968–1969
CSM M.H. Philips1969–1971
CSM H. Salazar1971–1973
CSM Adriano W. Benini1973–1975
CSM Robert G. Cady1975–1977
CSM Lucion L. Cowart1977–1979
CSM Frederick J. Eisenbart1979–1981
CSM Marvin L. Knowles1981–1982
CSM Orville W. Troesch Jr.1982–1984
CSM C.T. Tucker1984–1986
CSM M. Lee1986–1988
CSM Acie Gardner.jpg
CSM Acie Gardner1986–1991
CSM W E Woodall.jpg
CSM W. E. Woodall1991–1992
CSM Richard N Wilson.jpg
CSM Richard N. Wilson1992–1993
CSM Roy L Burns.jpg
CSM Roy L. Burns1993–1996
CSM Julius Nutter.jpg
CSM Julius Nutter1996–1997
CSM Robert M Dils.jpg
CSM Robert M. Dils1997–1999
CSM Arthur Laughlin.jpg
CSM Arthur Laughlin1999–2000
CSM Robert R Robinson II.jpg
CSM Robert R. Robinson II2000–2002
CSM William D McDaniel Jr.jpg
CSM William D. McDaniel Jr.2002–2003
CSM Clinton J Pearson.jpg
CSM Clinton J. Pearson2003–2008
CSM Robert J Wells.jpg
CSM Robert J. Wells2008–2011
CSM Terrence W Murphy.jpg
CSM Terrence W. Murphy2011–2013
CSM Butler J Kendrick Jr.jpg
CSM Butler J. Kendrick Jr.2013 - 2015
HOUSTON2Sm.jpg
CSM Bradley J. Houston2015 - 2017
WALKER.jpg
CSM Trevor C. Walker2017 - 2018
Galick command photo 2.jpg
CSM Douglas William Galick2019 - 2020
Brennan command 2.jpg
CSM John T. Brennan2020 - 2023
PLUMMER command.jpg
CSM Zachary Plummer 2023 - Present

Regimental Chief Warrant Officers

ImageNamePeriod of Office
CW5 Robert K Lamphear.jpg
CW5 Robert K. Lamphear2007–2011
CW5 Scott R Owens.jpg
CW5 Scott R. Owens2011 - 2015
CW5 FOBISH ACUs sm.jpg
CW5 John F. Fobish2015 - 2017
Bussey.png
CW5 Jerome Bussey2017 - 2019
CWO REGISTE no border.jpg
CW5 Dean A. Registe2019 - 2023
Gadsden no border.jpg
CW5 Willie Gadsden Jr. 2023 - present

Engineer

The school published Engineer ( ISSN   0046-1989), a professional bulletin.

See also

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References

  1. "The United States Army | Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri | U.S. Army Engineer School". wood.army.mil. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  2. "The United States Army | U.S. Army Engineer School". wood.army.mil. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  3. 1 2 "Post-World War II: 1946-Present". belvoir.army.mil. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  4. Dr. Larry Roberts. "History of Fort Leonard Wood" (PDF). Maneuver Support. No. Summer 2008. wood.army.mil. pp. 4–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-01-30..
  5. http://www.wood.army.mil/usaes/library/documents/History_USAES_Crest.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]