Elvin R. Heiberg III (b March 2, 1932 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii) became a third-generation West Pointer when he graduated fifth in the United States Military Academy class of 1953. He later obtained three master's degrees; the first a Master of Science in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, then two Master of Arts degrees from George Washington University, one in government and one in administration. He also received a degree from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Early in his military career Heiberg served as Operations Officer of the 3d Brigade, 3d Infantry Division, in Germany, and taught in the Social Sciences Department at the Military Academy. In 1968-69 he commanded the divisional 4th Engineer Battalion in Vietnam and was awarded a Silver Star. He then served as Special Assistant and Executive Assistant to the Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness, under the Executive Office of the President.
Heiberg served for a year as Executive to Secretary of the Army Howard Callaway. He then headed the Corps' New Orleans District and in 1975-78 the Ohio River Division. He served as senior engineer on the staff of U.S. Army, Europe, in 1978-79. Heiberg was the Corps' Director of Civil Works in 1979-82 and then Deputy Chief of Engineers. After managing the Army's Ballistic Missile Defense Program for a year, he became Chief of Engineers in 1984. Heiberg graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Heiberg, the 46th Chief of Engineers, remains the youngest "Chief" of the Corps of Engineers since 1838, when Brig. Gen. Totten became the 11th "Chief Engineer" (then the title).
Heiberg retired as a Lieutenant General (three stars) in June 1988.
Now as a civilian, Heiberg was chief executive officer of Rollins Field Services, Inc., under the Delaware firm Rollins Environmental Services, 1988-1990. He then moved to J.A. Jones Construction, a major engineering firm headquartered in Charlotte, NC. He headed J.A. Jones Construction Services from 1990–1993 and, in 1992 started J.A. Jones Environmental Services.
In 1993, Heiberg moved back to the Washington DC area and founded Heiberg Associates, Inc. That firm, now over 15 years old, provides engineering and environmental consulting services to a variety of clients.
Heiberg was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and later became a founding member of the National Academy of Construction. Heiberg often provides volunteer services to the National Research Council, the research/study arm of the two National Academies (Science;Engineering). Since the year 2000 that work has been primarily in reviewing draft reports before they are finalized.
Heiberg married Kathryn ("Kitty") Schrimpf in Kansas in 1953, after graduating from the United States Military Academy. She accompanied Heiberg on most of his military assignments. As of 2008 they reside in the Washington DC area, where Heiberg Associates is headquartered, and where Mrs. Heiberg runs her own business in antiques, porcelain repair and custom framing, known as "Creative Concepts". Among her many volunteer efforts, Mrs. Kitty Heiberg has performed work within the Nixon White House and a great variety of Army and Army wives' community efforts. They have four grown children, all married, and several grandchildren.
His military awards included;
This article contains public domain text from "Lieutenant General Elvin R. Heinberg III". Portraits and Profiles of Chief Engineers. Archived from the original on June 19, 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20050619075146/http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/history/coe4.htm#49. Retrieved August 20, 2005.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joseph K. Bratton |
Chief of Engineers 1984—1988 |
Succeeded by Henry J. Hatch |