Chief of Ordnance of the United States Army


The Chief of Ordnance of the United States Army is a general officer who is responsible for the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps and serves as the Commandant of the U.S. Army Ordnance School at Fort Lee, Virginia. The Chief of Ordnance is primarily focused on the doctrine, training, and professional development of Ordnance officers and soldiers. The position was created simultaneously with the establishment of the U.S. Army Ordnance Department on May 14, 1812.

History

18th century

The American Revolution established the general outlines of the future Ordnance Department. The Continental Congress' Board for War and Ordnance created the Commissary General for Military Stores to establish and operate ordnance facilities in an effort to alleviate the dependence on foreign arms and munitions. Colonel Benjamin Flower led the Commissary from his appointment in January 1775 until his death in May 1781. Ordnance facilities were established at Springfield, Massachusetts and Carlisle, Pennsylvania for the production of arms, powder, and shot. After the war, the logistic elements were disbanded and the authority for procurement and provision of all things military was transferred to the Office of the Purveyor of Public Supplies located within the Treasury Department.

19th century

By the dawn of the War of 1812, the Secretary of War recognized the need for a distinct branch to manage the procurement, research, and maintenance of Ordnance materiel. Decius Wadsworth, previously superintendent of West Point, was appointed a Colonel and given the title Commissary General of Ordnance, later changed to Chief of Ordnance. His ambition, during the war years and afterward, was to simplify and streamline Ordnance materiel management. His staff worked to reduce the variety of small arms and artillery pieces to a few efficient models. In addition, he aimed to develop a cadre of highly trained Ordnance officers who could dedicate their inventive ingenuity to their profession.

20th century

Following the massive reorganization of the Army in 1962 based on the Hoelscher Committee Report, the Ordnance Corps and the office of the Chief of Ordnance was disestablished. The Ordnance branch continued under the direction of the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics. Army Materiel Command assumed responsibility for many of the Ordnance Corps historical functions; research, development, procurement, production, storage and technical intelligence.
In 1985, the Ordnance Corps became the first of the Army’s support elements to re-establish itself under the branch regimental concept. The Office of the Chief of Ordnance was reestablished and regained responsibility for decisions concerning personnel, force structure, doctrine, and training. This change gave the opportunity for Ordnance officers, soldiers, and civilians to identify with their historical predecessors in their mission of Ordnance support to the U.S. Army.

21st century

In accordance with the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission, the U.S. Army Ordnance School and the Chief of Ordnance moved from Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland to Fort Lee, Virginia.

List of Army Chiefs of Ordnance

NamePhotoTerm beganTerm ended
1.Colonel Decius WadsworthJuly 2, 1812June 1, 1821
2.Colonel George BomfordMay 30, 1832March 25, 1848
3.Brevet Brigadier General George TalcottMarch 25, 1848July 10, 1851
4.Colonel Henry K. CraigJuly 10, 1851April 23, 1861
5.Brevet Brigadier General James W. RipleyApril 23, 1861September 15, 1863
6.Brigadier General George D. RamsaySeptember 15, 1863September 12, 1864
7.Brevet Major General Alexander B. DyerSeptember 12, 1864May 20, 1874
8.Brigadier General Stephen Vincent BenetJune 23, 1874January 22, 1891
9.Brigadier General Daniel W. FlagerJanuary 23, 1891March 29, 1899
10.Brigadier General Adelbert R. BuffingtonApril 5, 1899November 22, 1901
11.Brigadier General William CrozierNovember 22, 1901December 19, 1917
12.Major General Clarence C. WilliamsMay 2, 1918April 1, 1930
13.Major General Samuel HofJune 3, 1930June 2, 1934
14.Major General William H. TschappatJune 3, 1934June 2, 1938
15.Major General Charles M. WessonJune 3, 1938May 3, 1942
16.Major General Levin H. CampbellJune 1, 1942May 31, 1946
17.Major General Everett S. HughesJune 1, 1946October 31, 1949
18.Major General Elbert L. FordNovember 1, 1949October 31, 1953
19.Lieutenant General Emerson L. CummingsNovember 1, 1953April 2, 1958
20.Lieutenant General John H. HinrichsApril 2, 1958May 31, 1962
21.Major General Horace F. BigelowJune 1, 1962July 31, 1962
22.Major General William E. PottsOctober 28, 1985June 13, 1986
23.Major General Leon E. SalomonJune 13, 1986August 12, 1988
24.Major General James W. BallAugust 12, 1988July 13, 1990
25.Brigadier General Johnnie E. WilsonJuly 13, 1990June 30, 1992
26.Major General John G. CoburnJune 30, 1992June 20, 1994
27.Major General James W. MonroeJune 20, 1994August 11, 1995
28.Major General Robert D. ShadleyAugust 11, 1995July 10, 1997
29.Brigadier General Thomas R. DickinsonJuly 10, 1997September 18, 1998
30.Major General Dennis K. JacksonOctober 20, 1998July 25, 2000
31.Major General Mitchell H. StevensonJuly 25, 2000August 15, 2003
32.Brigadier General William M. LenaersAugust 15, 2003September 10, 2004
33.Major General Vincent E. BolesSeptember 10, 2004October 30, 2006
34.Brigadier General Rebecca S. HalsteadOctober 30, 2006June 26, 2008
35.Brigadier General Lynn A. CollyarJune 26, 2008July 29, 2010
36.Brigadier General Clark W. LeMasters Jr.July 29, 2010March 21, 2012
37.Brigadier General Edward M. DalyJune 12, 2012May 17, 2013
38.Brigadier General John F. HaleyMay 17, 2013June 12, 2015
39Brigadier General Kurt J. RyanJuly 10, 2015June 1, 2016
40Brigadier General David WilsonAugust 10, 2016May 8, 2018
41Brigadier General Heidi J. HoyleMay 8, 2018May 21, 2020
42Brigadier General Michelle M.T. LetcherPhoto PendingJune 16, 2020Present