COL George W. Outland

Colonel George W. Outland was born on 21 February 1895 in Payne, Ohio. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 1916 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture and a Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Upon his entry into the U.S. Army in 1917, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Engineer Corps. He was reassigned to the Ordnance Corps in September of 1919 after being offered the transition.

In his 36-year career, Colonel Outland served in positions of ever-increasing technical responsibility at every level; including, automotive activities at the U.S. Bureau of Standards, research and development at Watertown Arsenal, automotive design issues at Rock Island Arsenal, Chief of Engineering Section, Aberdeen Proving Ground. Moreover, he notably was the first Commandant of the U.S. Army Ordnance School.

In early 1943, Colonel Outland was transferred to New Delhi, India where he served as Chief Ordnance Officer, U.S. Forces China-Burma-India Theater. In this capacity, he oversaw an organization of 25,000 Soldiers and civilians and provided technical supervision over all U.S. Army Ordnance supply and maintenance activities in the theater. He was transferred again in 1944, this time to serve as Chief of the Springfield Ordnance District, Springfield Armory. By 1947, Colonel Outland began duties with the Air Training Command at Barksdale AFB, during which time he served as the technical advisor on all Ordnance Training activities.

Colonel Outland culminated his Army career with his appointment to assistant to the Chief of Ordnance at the Pentagon. He described his duties as, “technical writing; head of instruction, safety, and security within the department; public relations; liaison with Congress and the Inspector General; and also the Chief’s Hatchet Man and Whipping Boy”.

Colonel George W. Outland retired in 1952.