From the appointment of the first uniformed Army engineers by the Continental Congress on 16 June 1775, over the last 250 years U.S. Army Engineers have evolved to encompass the twin pillars of modern engineer operations, providing engineering expertise to the Army, and responding to the nation’s toughest engineering and environmental challenges. Today, under the Chief of Engineers, more than 84,000 Army Engineer Soldiers serve in active duty, reserve, and National Guard troop units and around 40,000 largely civilian members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) serve the nation.
During 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will use the occasion of the organization’s 250th Anniversary to tell the story of engineering excellence that has evolved to reflect the needs of the Army and the nation it serves. The commemoration will highlight the many contributions of U.S. Army Engineers—past, present, and future.