This honorary appointment has a normal tenure of three years and is bestowed upon a retired senior officer who has served with distinction. The first Colonel Commandant in the Canadian Army was appointed for the Artillery in January 1925 and in December 1947 each corps of the Canadian Army was permitted to have a Colonel Commandant. Appointees must have held the rank of colonel or higher and, although Colonels Commandant may have held higher rank, they assume the insignia of colonel with pride. The title of Colonel is symbolic, being the highest rank within the historic regimental system and thus the senior position having direct contact with junior ranks. The Military Engineers' first Colonel Commandant was Brigadier J. L. Melville, CBE, MC, ED, CD who was appointed in 1948 when the appointment was referred to as "Honorary Colonel Commandant."

Our current Colonel Commandant is Major General Daniel Benjamin, CMM, CD (Ret’d)

Former Colonels Commandant are:

• Brigadier-General S.M. Irwin, CD (Ret'd) - Mars 2015 - Avril 2021
• Brigadier-General Deslauriers, OMM, CD (Ret'd) - March 2010 - February 2015
• Colonel Roger K. St.John, OMM, CD (Ret'd) - January 2008 - September 2009
• Major-General John E. Woods, CD (Ret'd) - January 2005 - January 2008
• Brigadier-General T. H. M. Silva, CD (Ret'd) - November 2000 - January 2005
• Brigadier-General A. C. Brown, CMM, CD (Ret'd) - October 1997 - November 2000
• Major-General J. A. Stewart, CD (Ret'd) - October 1994 - October 1997
• Major-General N. S. Freeman, CD (Ret'd) - October 1991 - October 1994
• Colonel E. A. Ballantyne, CD (Ret'd)- October 1988 - October 1991
• Colonel M. C. Sutherland-Brown, DSO, CD (Ret'd) - October 1982 - October 1988
• Major-General G. H. Spencer, OBE, CD (Ret'd) - September 1978 - October 1982
• Colonel R. J. Carson, CD (Ret'd) - October 1973 - September 1978
• Brigadier J. L. Melville, CBE, MC, ED, CD (Ret'd) - March 1948 (Ret'd)- October 1973