George P. Scriven

Chief Signal Officer, U.S. Army George Percival Scriven

Born	(1854-02-21)February 21, 1854 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	March 7, 1940(1940-03-07) (aged 86) Southern Pines, North Carolina
Buried at	United States Military Academy Post Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1874–1917
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands held	U.S. Signal Corps
Awards	Silver Star (2) Spanish–American War Philippine–American War China Relief Expedition Cuban Occupation Mexican Expedition Foreign Service (1917‑1918) Grand Officer of the Crown of Italy (1918)
Spouse(s)	Bertha née Bragg Elizabeth née McQuade


Chairman of the NACA
In office April 23, 1915 – 1916
President	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	-
Succeeded by	William F. Durand

George Percival Scriven was the seventh Chief Signal Officer of the United States Army (1913–1917). In this position he commanded the Aeronautical Division (1913–1914),and later the Aviation Section (1914–1917) of U.S. Signal Corps, the forerunner of the United States Air Force.

Scriven was first Chairman of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (1915–1916), the forerunner of NASA.

George Percival Scriven was born on February 21, 1854, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Chicago for one year, studied civil engineering for two years at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, then enrolled at the United States Military Academy. Scriven graduated fifth in his class in 1878.

Scriven was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on June 14, 1878, and served with the Eighth Infantry, then returned to teach modern languages at West Point. In 1885, Scriven was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and assigned to the Third Artillery. Delegated to the Adjutant General's Office, in 1890, Scriven was placed on duty with the State Department within the Army's Signal Corps.