Reclamation History

 

Ellis L. Armstrong, Commissioner,
Bureau of Reclamation, 1969-1973.

Born in 1914 in Cedar City, Utah, Armstrong's first Reclamation-related job was supervising a group of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollees on the Pine River Project in 1934. Armstrong received his degree in Civil and Irrigation Engineering from Utah State University in 1936. He worked for Reclamation on the Moonlake project, Deer Creek Dam, Anderson Ranch Dam between 1936 and 1954. Armstrong left Reclamation to become project engineer and deputy project manager of the St. Lawrence Power and Seaway Project from 1954 to 1957. The next stop in his career was as Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads from 1958 to 1961. Armstrong left public life to work as a consultant between 1961 and 1968. He returned to Bureau as Assistant Director of Region 4 in 1968. During Armstrong's term as Commissioner, he reorganized the Bureau and abolished the position of Chief Engineer.

Back to List of Commissioners