Goethals was appointed by President Roosevelt as Chairman and Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission (I.C.C.). He served in that position until completion of the canal in 1914, following which he served as Governor of the Panama Canal until his resignation January 17, 1917.
As Chief Engineer of the I.C.C., Goethals was tasked with cutting down to a much lower level several good sized mountains near the center of the Isthmus in order to minimize the elevation of the canal itself. Once the job was done, Goethals received the thanks of U.S. Congress "for distinguished service in constructing the Panama Canal."
