William Gianelli
Encyclopedia
William Gianelli was United States
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
from 1981 to 1984.
on February 19, 1919. He was educated at the University of California, Berkeley
, receiving a B.S. in 1941. He then served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers
from 1941 to 1945, in the midst of World War II
. In this capacity, he was involved in building airfields, water supply facilities, and other construction projects at installations in Hawaii
, Saipan
, Okinawa, and Korea
. By the end of the war, he had attained the rank of Major
.
After the war, in January 1946, Gianelli took a job in the office of the State Engineer of California. After ten years in that job, he left for the California Department of Water Resources
, becoming staff engineer and special assistant to the director. In 1959, he became district engineer for the CDWR's southern district.
In 1960, Gianelli left government service and formed a consulting engineering firm, Gianelli & Murray.
In January 1967, Governor of California
Ronald Reagan
appointed Gianelli as head of the California Department of Water Resources
. In that capacity, he oversaw the development of the California State Water Project
.
Gianelli again left government service in 1973, becoming a consulting engineer. From 1973 to 1976, he served on the National Commission on Water Quality appointed by President of the United States
Richard Nixon
and chaired by Nelson Rockefeller
.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated Gianelli as Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
, and, after Senate Confirmation, he held this office from April 1981 until May 1984. He was chairman of the Panama Canal Commission, the last four years under special Congressional Authorization.
Dawson continued to work as a consultant after leaving government service in 1984.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
The Assistant Secretary of the Army , abbreviated ASA, is an office of the United States Department of the Army responsible for overseeing the civil functions of the United States Army...
from 1981 to 1984.
Biography
William Gianelli was born in Stockton, CaliforniaStockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
on February 19, 1919. He was educated at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, receiving a B.S. in 1941. He then served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
from 1941 to 1945, in the midst of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In this capacity, he was involved in building airfields, water supply facilities, and other construction projects at installations in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, Okinawa, and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. By the end of the war, he had attained the rank of Major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
.
After the war, in January 1946, Gianelli took a job in the office of the State Engineer of California. After ten years in that job, he left for the California Department of Water Resources
California Department of Water Resources
The California Department of Water Resources , is a department within the California Natural Resources Agency. The Department of Water Resources is responsible for the State of California's management and regulation of water usage...
, becoming staff engineer and special assistant to the director. In 1959, he became district engineer for the CDWR's southern district.
In 1960, Gianelli left government service and formed a consulting engineering firm, Gianelli & Murray.
In January 1967, Governor of California
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
appointed Gianelli as head of the California Department of Water Resources
California Department of Water Resources
The California Department of Water Resources , is a department within the California Natural Resources Agency. The Department of Water Resources is responsible for the State of California's management and regulation of water usage...
. In that capacity, he oversaw the development of the California State Water Project
California State Water Project
The California State Water Project, commonly known as the SWP , is the world's largest publicly built and operated water and power development and conveyance system. The SWP was designed and is operated by the California Department of Water Resources...
.
Gianelli again left government service in 1973, becoming a consulting engineer. From 1973 to 1976, he served on the National Commission on Water Quality appointed by President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and chaired by Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated Gianelli as Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
The Assistant Secretary of the Army , abbreviated ASA, is an office of the United States Department of the Army responsible for overseeing the civil functions of the United States Army...
, and, after Senate Confirmation, he held this office from April 1981 until May 1984. He was chairman of the Panama Canal Commission, the last four years under special Congressional Authorization.
Dawson continued to work as a consultant after leaving government service in 1984.