|
CLASS OF 1880
|
After graduating from West Point, Goethals enjoyed a solid career as an army engineer, including two tours of duty teaching engineering at West Point. In 1903 he joined the newly created War Department General Staff.
In 1907, he was appointed chief engineer of the Panama Canal project. Placing West Pointers in key positions, he brought it in ahead of schedule. It opened for traffic in 1914. Goethals, now famous, remained in the Canal Zone as governor until he retired in 1916.
Recalled to active duty in World War I, Goethals became acting quartermaster general and director of the general staff’s purchase, storage, and traffic division. From this relatively obscure post, he brought the army’s vast supply system under central control.
Again retired after the Armistice, Goethals became a successful engineering consultant in New York.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
