The United States Navy's Bureau of Ships (BuShips) was established by Congress on June 20, 1940, by a law which consolidated the functions of the Bureau of Construction and Repair and the Bureau of Engineering. The new Bureau was to be headed by a Chief and Deputy-Chief, one selected from the engineering corps (Marine Engineer) and the other from the construction corps (Naval Architect). The Chief of the former Bureau of Engineering, RAdm. Samuel M. "Mike" Robinson, was named BuShips' first Chief, while the former Chief of the Bureau of Construction & Repair, RAdm. Alexander H. Van Keuren, was named as BuShips' first Deputy-Chief.