The Father of Our Country could also be considered the father of American engineers. National Engineers Week is celebrated this year nationwide Feb. 21-27. The week was founded in 1951 and the dates are chosen each year to coincide with the birthday of President George Washington, America's first engineer.
A gentleman farmer with inherited wealth but limited formal education, Washington acquired credible surveying skills early in life. But his real engineering genius lay in management, strategy and leadership.
During the Revolutionary War, on June 9, 1778, at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Gen. Washington issued a call for engineers and military engineering education. As president, Washington established a Corps of Artillerists and Engineers in 1794 to be educated and stationed at West Point in New York, which later became the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He promoted construction of roads, canals, water works, docks and ports, and directed a growing nation toward technical advancements, invention and education. He championed the design and construction of Washington, America's capital city, and laid the cornerstone for the Capitol Building.
National Engineers Week is an important annual event for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). This year, USACE has five of the top 10 finalists for the Federal Engineer of the Year Award. The ceremony will be held Feb. 26 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
"I am very proud of our Army Engineers," said Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, USACE Commander and Chief of Engineers. "They deliver vital public and military engineering services to strengthen our nation's security, energize the economy and reduce risks form disasters."
The USACE civil works mission provides a key component of the nation's public infrastructure that facilitates economic growth, quality of life, environmental health and national security. The military missions program supports Soldiers and their families, other agencies and foreign partners. USACE matches its capabilities to combatant command requirements to develop efficient and effective solutions to support diplomacy, defense and development -- the three pillars of America's National Security Strategy.
USACE is the nation's environmental engineer, creating engineering solutions for environmental challenges. The agency has one of the largest environmental restoration and environmental sustainability roles in the federal government. USACE supports its Department of Defense, Army, Air Force, and National Guard partners in achieving their goals for environmental compliance and cleanup.
USACE is the nation's largest federal provider of outdoor recreation, managing more than 400 lake and river projects in 43 states and hosting more than 370 million visits per year. With 90 percent of these recreation facilities within 50 miles of metropolitan areas, they provide a diverse range of outdoor activities close to home and to people of all ages.
USACE is also committed to addressing our nation's STEM challenge (science, technology, engineering, math). USACE employees participate in mentorship programs, science fairs, robotics competitions, teacher-training workshops, recreational events, STEM camps and other educational opportunities.
"Our highly skilled workforce provides significant value to the nation," Bostick said. "With sustainability as a guiding principle, our disciplined team is working diligently to strengthen our nation's security by building and maintaining America's water resources infrastructure and providing military facilities where service members train, work and live."
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