Gen. Robert B. Flowers for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general with assignment as Chief of Engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. He also directs the formulation of Army engineer doctrine, force structure, battlefield tactics, training, and materiel development. After graduation from the Virginia Military Institute and his commissioning as a second lieutenant in 1969, Flowers completed ranger and airborne training. His civilian and military education includes a master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Virginia, the Engineer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College, and the National War College.
Flowers is a registered professional engineer in Virginia.
Before his assignment to Fort Leonard Wood, Flowers was the Commander of Mississippi Valley Division. He was responsible for U.S. forces construction in the theater. From October 1993 to July 1995 he was Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Engineer Center, and Assistant Commandant, U.S. Army Engineer School, Fort Leonard Wood. While serving in that position, from July 1992 until June 1993, he was the Joint Task Force Engineer for the Joint Task Force in Somalia. Flowers' first troop assignment was with the 94th Engineer Battalion in Germany, 1970-73, where he served as a Platoon Leader, Company Commander, and Battalion Operations Officer.