Carl A. Strock
Encyclopedia
Carl Ames Strock (born c. 1948) was a United States Army
officer, and was Chief of Engineers
and the Commanding General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers
. He was born in Georgia
and grew up in an Army family. He enlisted in the Army and received his commission as an infantry
second lieutenant following graduation from Officer Candidate School
in 1972. After completing Ranger
and Special Forces
training, he served primarily with infantry units before transferring to the Engineer Branch of the U.S. Army in 1983. He holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in civil engineering from the Virginia Military Institute
and a master's degree in civil engineering
from Mississippi State University
. He is a Registered Professional Engineer
.
Prior to his selection as the Chief of Engineers
and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he served as Director of Civil Works, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In September 2003, he returned from a six-month tour of duty in Iraq as the Deputy Director of Operations for the Coalition Provisional Authority
. His previous assignment was Director of Military Programs, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In an email message sent August 11, 2006 to all Corps of Engineers employees, Strock announced that he made "a personal decision" to request retirement from the Army. He also stated, "The Secretary of the Army has approved my request."
Robert L. Van Antwerp Jr. was confirmed by the US Senate on the 5 March 2007 as the 52nd Chief of Engineers.
Strock's command assignments include:
Other assignments include:
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer, and was Chief of Engineers
Chief of Engineers
The Chief of Engineers commands the US Army Corps of Engineers. As a staff officer at The Pentagon, the Chief advises the Army on engineering matters and serves as the Army's topographer and the proponent for real estate and other related engineering programs....
and the Commanding General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
. He was born in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and grew up in an Army family. He enlisted in the Army and received his commission as an infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
second lieutenant following graduation from Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School (U.S. Army)
The United States Army's Officer Candidate School , located at Fort Benning, Georgia, provides training to become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army...
in 1972. After completing Ranger
Ranger School
The United States Army Ranger School is an intense 61-day combat leadership course oriented towards small-unit tactics. It has been called the "toughest combat course in the world" and "is the most physically and mentally demanding leadership school the Army has to offer". The course is conducted...
and Special Forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
training, he served primarily with infantry units before transferring to the Engineer Branch of the U.S. Army in 1983. He holds a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in civil engineering from the Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
and a master's degree in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
from Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
. He is a Registered Professional Engineer
Professional Engineer
Regulation of the engineering profession is established by various jurisdictions of the world to protect the safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes authorized to provide professional services to the...
.
Prior to his selection as the Chief of Engineers
Chief of Engineers
The Chief of Engineers commands the US Army Corps of Engineers. As a staff officer at The Pentagon, the Chief advises the Army on engineering matters and serves as the Army's topographer and the proponent for real estate and other related engineering programs....
and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he served as Director of Civil Works, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In September 2003, he returned from a six-month tour of duty in Iraq as the Deputy Director of Operations for the Coalition Provisional Authority
Coalition Provisional Authority
The Coalition Provisional Authority was established as a transitional government following the invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies, members of the Multi-National Force – Iraq which was formed to oust the government of Saddam Hussein in 2003...
. His previous assignment was Director of Military Programs, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In an email message sent August 11, 2006 to all Corps of Engineers employees, Strock announced that he made "a personal decision" to request retirement from the Army. He also stated, "The Secretary of the Army has approved my request."
Robert L. Van Antwerp Jr. was confirmed by the US Senate on the 5 March 2007 as the 52nd Chief of Engineers.
Strock's command assignments include:
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division;
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pacific Ocean Division;
- Engineer Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia;
- 307th Engineer Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, where he led the battalion through Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia and Iraq;
- Rifle Company Commander, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (Forward) in Germany;
- Operational Detachment Commander, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Other assignments include:
- Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Engineer Training Center and Fort Leonard WoodFort Leonard Wood (military base)Fort Leonard Wood is a United States Army installation located in the Missouri Ozarks. The main gate is located on the southern boundary of St. Robert. The post was created in December 1940 and named in honor of General Leonard Wood, former Chief of Staff, in January 1941...
, Missouri; - Personnel Staff Officer, Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Washington, D.C.;
- Colonels Assignment Officer, U.S. Army Personnel Command, Washington D.C.;
- Exchange Officer and Instructor, Royal School of Military Engineering in England;
- Battalion Operations Officer, Assistant Division Engineer, and Battalion Executive Officer for the 307th Engineer Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division;
- Resident Engineer, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi;
- Project Officer, Tennessee- Tombigbee Waterway, Mississippi and Alabama;
- Scout Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.