Engineer Week is a celebration that takes place on the third week of February annually because it coincides with President George Washington’s birthday. This is significant, since Washington is considered our Nation’s first engineer, and he also appointed the first engineer officers to the U.S. Army on June 16, 1775, during the American Revolution.
The Army established the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a separate, permanent branch on March 16, 1802, and gave the engineers responsibility for founding and operating the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Throughout the 19th century, USACE built costal fortifications, surveyed roads and canals, eliminated navigational hazards, explored and mapped the Western frontier and constructed buildings and monuments in the Nation's capital.
In the 20th century, USACE became the lead federal flood control agency and significantly expanded its civil works activities, becoming among other things a major provider of hydroelectric energy and the country's leading provider of water-based recreation. Its role in responding to natural disasters also grew dramatically.
We take time this week to not only celebrate the accomplishments of our Nation’s first engineers but to also bring awareness to the amazing things our team of engineers are doing in the Little Rock District.