Civil Engineer Corps

U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps
U.S. Naval Civil Engineer Corps Insignia
Active2 March 1867 – present
CountryUnited States of America
AllegianceUnited States U.S.
BranchU.S. Navy (Active & Reserve Component)
TypeStaff Corps
Nickname(s)Crossed Bananas
EngagementsSicily, North Africa, Normandy, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Kwajalein, Roi-Namur, Battle of Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Tarawa, Peleliu, Philippines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Operation Highjump, Korea, Operation Deep Freeze, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan
Commanders
Chief of Civil EngineersRADM Dean VanderLey, CEC, USN

The Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) is a staff corps of the United States Navy. CEC officers are professional engineers and architects, acquisitions specialists, and Seabee Combat Warfare Officers who qualify within Seabee units. They are responsible for executing and managing the planning, design, acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Navy's shore facilities. The Civil Engineer Corps is under the command of the Chief of Civil Engineers and Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command. On 12 August 2022, RADM Dean VanderLey relieved RADM John W. Korka, becoming the 46th commander of NAVFAC and Chief of Civil Engineers.[1]

Present day CEC ranks range from CWO4 to RADM, though the community is phasing out Chief Warrant Officer ranks in favor of Limited Duty Officers. Several Civil Engineer Corps officers, primarily those serving during or around the time of World War II, have held the rank of Vice Admiral, and one officer, Ben Moreell, has held the four-star rank of Admiral, but there are no current billets within the US Navy that require Civil Engineer Corps officers of either rank. The worldwide CEC Active- and Reserve-Component authorized end strength is shown below.

Authorized End Strength, as of October 2023 (510X, 653X, 753X designators)
Total ADM VADM RADM RDML CAPT CDR LCDR LT LTJG ENS CWO5 CWO4 CWO3 CWO2
Active 1,277 0 0 1 2 80 182 287 398 164 161 1 1 0 0
Reserve 438 0 0 1 1 24 72 144 111 43 42 0 0 0 0
Total 1,715 0 0 2 3 104 254 431 509 207 203 1 1 0 0
  1. ^ Christopher, Dunne. "NAVFAC Holds Change of Command". Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command. Retrieved 13 August 2022.