Leading the Way for 70 Leading the Way for 70

Leading the Way for 70

[hassubttitle]Introduction
Establishing Independence Establishing Independence

Establishing Independence

[hassubttitle]1947-1959
Rising to the Challenge Rising to the Challenge

Rising to the Challenge

[hassubttitle]1960-1974
Era 3 Civil Engineers Leading the Way 1975-1990 Era 3 Civil Engineers Leading the Way 1975-1990

Building on Success

[hassubttitle]1975-1990
Responding to New Challenges 1991-2000 Responding to New Challenges 1991-2000

Responding to New Challenges

[hassubttitle]1991-2000
Meeting the New Century Meeting the New Century

Meeting the New Century

[hassubttitle]2001-2012

70 Years of Civil Engineers Leading the Way

Welcome

It's the United States Air Force's 70th anniversary and civil engineers have been there every step of the way. On this site we will be celebrating that partnership. The scrolling images above (and the images below) will take you to different eras in Air Force civil engineering and the side modules will introduce you to its leaders and some downloadable resources and souvenirs.

This site will updated and highlight new eras until we reach the Air Force's birthday on Sept. 18th, so please make sure you check back for new content.

Introduction

For as long as there have been military airfields, there have been military engineers dedicated to their design, construction, operation, maintenance and repair. Before the United States Air Force became a separate service in 1947, construction personnel working with the Army Quartermaster Corps and engineers assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worked closely with the Air Service, the Army Air Corps and, eventually, the Army Air Forces. Although not aviators themselves, these military personnel formed a dedicated cadre of experts knowledgeable in the construction of airfields and associated facilities critical to supporting flying operations. This knowledge became particularly critical in times of war when military engineers were tasked to construct, on short notice, airfields in war zones to support critical missions. By World War II, this specialty branch of engineering was known as aviation engineering and became the basis for the civil engineering function that evolved when the Air Force became a separate service in 1947.

*the content above is an excerpt taken from Leading the Way.

Eras in Air Force Civil Engineering

1947-1959: History | Leader Biographies
1960-1974: History | Leader Biographies
1975-1990: History | Leader Biographies
1991-2000: History | Leader Biographies
2001-2012: History | Leader Biographies

Era 1 Era 2 Era 3
Era 4 Era 5 Civil Engineering Era 6 Poster