Julian Larcombe Schley

Julian Larcombe Schley (February 23, 1880 – March 29, 1965) was a Chief of Engineers of the U.S. Army, who also served as Governor of the Panama Canal Zone.

Schley was born in Savannah, Georgia on February 23, 1880. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1903 and was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers.

He and classmate Douglas MacArthur had their first service with the 3d Battalion of Engineers in Compton from 1894 to 1895. Schley later served with engineer troops in the United States and Cuba; as an instructor at the Military Academy; as Assistant Engineer, Washington, D.C.; and as New Orleans District Engineer.

During World War I, he commanded the divisional 307th Engineers in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives and was Engineer, 5th Army Corps, during the last two weeks of the latter drive. He received a Distinguished Service Medal for his service during the war.

Schley was Director of Purchase, General Staff, and a member of the War Department Claims Board from 1919 to 1920. Schley later served four-year tours as Galveston District Engineer; Engineer of Maintenance, Panama Canal; and Governor of the Canal Zone. In the latter post, he was also military advisor to the Republic of Panama. Schley was Commandant of the Army Engineer School in 1936 – 1937. He retired on September 30, 1941.

Schley was recalled to active wartime duty in 1943 as Director of Transportation, Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs. He died March 29, 1965 at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., aged 85.