U.S. Army news release (Aug. 10, 2006): Army chief of engineers to retire.

The secretary of the Army, in consultation with the chief of staff of the Army, has agreed to submit the request for retirement of Lt. Gen. Carl A. Strock, chief of engineers and commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the secretary of defense for approval. Strock made his request based on family and personal reasons, which the secretary of the Army honors and supports.

The U.S. Army's chief of engineers is a unique duty position with separate and distinct command and staff responsibilities. Staff duties include advising the Army on engineering matters and acting as proponent for real estate and other related engineering programs. Duties as the commander of the Corps of Engineers include leadership of a major command that is the world's largest public engineering, design, and construction management agency. The Corps is organized geographically into divisions with subordinate districts throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. In addition, a provisional division with four districts was activated Jan. 25, 2004, to oversee operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Strock became chief of engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on July 1, 2004. He has been instrumental to the success of the reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as managing the Corps' recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Previous to his assignment as chief of engineers, Strock served as the director of civil works, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As such, he managed the Army's multibillion-dollar annual civil works program, the nation's primary planner, designer, builder, and operator of flood control, navigation, environmental restoration, and multiple-purpose water resource projects. Strock also spent six months in Iraq during 2003 as the deputy director of operations for the Coalition Provisional Authority. He oversaw the beginning of the Iraq reconstruction effort under the CPA's authority and took part in standing up the new Gulf Region Division in Iraq in January 2004.

Strock is a former enlisted soldier who graduated from Officer Candidate School and then spent 11 years in special forces, airborne, and mechanized 

infantry units prior to transferring to the Corps of Engineers in 1983. He commanded the 307th Engineer Battalion throughout Operation Just Cause and Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He also commanded the Engineer Brigade of the 3d Infantry Division, and the Corps of Engineers Pacific Ocean and the Northwestern Divisions.

In accordance with Title 10, U.S.C., the secretary of the Army will now convene an advisory board that will recommend a list of officers from which the president will approve one officer for nomination to and confirmation by the Senate.

For additional information contact Suzanne Fournier at [phone] or e-mail [e-mail]; or Lt. Col. William Wiggins at [phone] or [e-mail].