Leadership as a Responsibility

The commanding general and chief of engineers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stresses that the traditional role of the engineer must change to meet the current needs of society. The extent to which these changes can be effected through formal education is briefly treated. Correcting the deficiencies of America's infrastructure will, it is argued, require engineers to get involved in policy making. Leadership is seen as another aspect of an engineer's responsibility as a citizen of a democracy. As professionals, engineers have an obligation to employ their skills in the service of a free society.