Years of service 1972-2011 Name Robert Van | Battles/wars Gulf War | |
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Lieutenant General Robert L. Van Antwerp Jr. M.Sc. M.B.A. PE (born January 27, 1950) was the Chief of Engineers of the United States Army and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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Early life
He was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Military career
Van Antwerp graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1972. He completed Ranger, Airborne and Air Assault training and the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses. He holds a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration degree from Long Island University in New York. He is a Registered Professional Engineer. He served for a number of years as President of Officer's Christian Fellowship.
Van Antwerp's previous assignment was as Commanding General, U.S. Army Accessions Command and Deputy Commanding General for Initial Military Training at Fort Monroe, Virginia. Additionally, Van Antwerp exercised Department of the Army directed executive agent authority over the United States Military Entrance Processing Command. Command assignments include the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center and Fort Leonard Wood/Commandant, U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District during the Northridge earthquake of 1994; the U.S. Army Division, South Atlantic, Atlanta, Georgia; and the 326th Engineer Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during the Gulf War. Other assignments include Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, Washington, DC; Director, Office of Competitive Sourcing, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research, Development and Acquisition), Washington, DC; Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC; Executive Office, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington, D.C.; Chief, Military Engineering and Construction Division, U.S. Army Western Command, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Executive Officer, 84th Engineer Battalion, 45th General Support Group, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and Instructor, Department of Mechanics, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York.
Civilian life
After retiring from military service, he joined the Board of Directors for the Michael Baker Corporation. He resigned from the board in March 2012 citing a potential conflict of interest.