Posted on June 29, 2026
By Erin Jimenez
William Rayner was recently named chief of Safety and Occupational Health for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District.
In his role, Rayner serves as the principal adviser to the district commander and executive leadership on matters involving safety, occupational health and risk management. He oversees programs that ensure civilian, military and contractor personnel maintain the highest safety standards across the district’s civil works, construction, operations and military missions.
Rayner brings more than 35 years of military and civilian experience with the Department of the Army to the position. He most recently served as the Little Rock District construction safety manager, providing safety oversight for civil works and construction projects throughout the district as well as at military installations across the United States and overseas.
Prior to joining the district’s Safety and Occupational Health Office, Rayner served in several safety leadership positions with the U.S. Army. His assignments included safety and occupational health manager for the U.S. Army Reserve’s 90th Sustainment Brigade, installation occupational and explosives safety manager for Camp Robinson in Arkansas and state safety and occupational health specialist for the Arkansas National Guard. He retired from the Arkansas Army National Guard in 2021 after a 31-year military career, attaining the rank of command sergeant major.
Rayner holds a master of arts in organizational leadership with a concentration in emergency management from Waldorf University. He also earned bachelor of science degrees in occupational safety and health and environmental management from Columbia Southern University. In addition, he has completed advanced safety and occupational health certification programs through the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, the University of Texas at Arlington and the U.S. Army.
The Little Rock District has a diverse mission that includes both military and civil works projects. Within its boundaries, the district operates 12 multipurpose lakes, 13 locks and dams, 308 miles of navigation on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, 168 recreation areas and seven hydroelectric plants.
