American Military History, Volume 2 by Richard W. Stewart

In view of the changes occurring in the Defense Department, it was hardly surprising in 1961 that Secretary McNamara would also direct a thorough review of the Army's makeup and procedures. A broad re- organization plan resulted. Approved by the President in early 1962, it called for major shifts in the tasks performed by the Army Staff and the agency's technical services. The Army Staff became primarily responsible for planning and policy, while the execution of decisions fell squarely upon field commands. In an effort to centralize personnel, training, and research and development while integrating supply operations, the new system abolished most of the technical services.

The offices of the Chief Chemical Officer, the Chief of Ordnance, and the Quartermaster Gen- eral disappeared completely. The Chief Signal Officer and the Chief of Transportation continued to perform their duties, but as special staff of- ficers rather than as chiefs of services. Chief Signal Officer later regained a place on the General Staff when he became Assistant Chief of Staff for Communications-Electronics in 1967. The Chief of Transportation's activities, however, were absorbed in 1964 by the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics. For a time, the Chief of Engineers retained his special status only with respect to civil functions. His military functions came under the general supervision of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics. That changed in 1969, when the office again achieved independent status. Among the technical services, only the Office of the Surgeon General emerged unscathed from the reorganization.