The SAME Academy of Fellows will invest 25 new Fellows during its annual Investiture Ceremony, which will be held Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, North Bethesda, Md., as part of SAME Capital Week and preceding the 2018 Academy of Fellows Golden Eagle Awards Dinner.
Established in 1995, the SAME Academy of Fellows recognizes those members who have rendered dedicated and outstanding service to the Society, to military engineering, and to the A/E/C profession. During the ceremony, the Academy also will honor this year’s recipient of the Gerald C. Brown Mentoring Award, which is awarded annually to a member of the Academy for outstanding mentoring efforts.
Congratulations to the new SAME Fellows who will be invested and to the Gerald C. Brown Mentoring Award recipient, Heather Wishart-Smith, P.E., PMP, LEED AP, F.SAME, F.ASCE. Learn more about SAME Academy of Fellows.
Capt. Edward Brown, P.E., F.SAME, USN (Ret.)
Captain Ed Brown has been a member of SAME for 22 years, and since 2006 has been actively engaged in the Jacksonville Post, serving twice a Vice President, and then Post President 2016-2017. As President, he instituted an active recruitment program designed for small businesses to enable them to better participate. The Post also hosted a first ever joint luncheon with a local Women in the Defense Chapter that had record attendance and inspired other groups mentoring female students in STEM programs to reach out to collaborate. Within the Navy, Captain Brown commanded at the company, and regimental level. As Commanding Officer of Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, he managed over 5,000 personnel to attain record operations while planning and reconstructing the installation after Hurricane Katrina. He currently is a Senior Program Manager with Jacobs.
Cdr. Craig Clutts, P.E., CEM, CEC, F.SAME, USN
Commander Craig Clutts has rendered outstanding service to SAME for more than a decade. He has chaired numerous committees and served in leadership positions across three Posts including President of the Washington DC Post. This past year as Past President, he led an effort to draft an annual Post Program template that would build consistency and better involve partnerships with other societies and area government entities. Commander Clutts is advocate for STEM Outreach and Young Member mentoring. As a Civil Engineer Corps Officer, he has served over 20 years and had direct involvement in disaster responses, contingency engineering, and military construction projects, including as Executive Officer for 550 Seabees deployed with the Marine Corps in Afghanistan, leading hundreds of construction missions. He is currently Branch Head of Facilities’ Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization at CNIC.
Maj. Ruben Cruz, Ph.D., P.E., F.SAME, USAF (Ret.)
Doctor Ruben Cruz, a retired Air Force major, has been a dedicated member of the Pikes Peak Post the last decade including serving as Post President, 2016-2017. He has been a Vice President, Secretary, and a member of the SAME/US Air Force Academy Summer Camp Organizing Committee for 11 years. As an engineer, he has designed and managed countless projects and lead research projects resulting in never-seen-before engineering solutions. In academia, he has attained the rank of Assistant Professor at the Air Force Academy and Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado. As a Civil Engineer Officer, he rose from designer to project engineer to Division Manager to Base Civil Engineer before retiring. Doctor Cruz, a past recipient of the SAME Goethals Medal for Pre-Eminent Contributions in Engineering, is currently a Project Manager and Geotechnical Engineer with Merrick & Company.
Rear Adm. Randall Gardner, P.E., F.SAME, USPHS (Ret.)
Rear Admiral Randy Gardner has been a member of SAME for 25 years. In his role as Chief Engineer Officer of the Public Health Service, he was a champion for SAME and made a continuous effort to engage his engineer officers with the Society and learn and train alongside their fellow servicemembers and professionals. He participated in SAME’s national conferences and helped inform the Society’s strategic direction as a member of the Uniformed Services Advisory Group, and earlier in his career as a member of the National Board of Direction. As a Service Chief, he participated in many local post activities, and spoke during ceremonies with the Northern Virginia, Washington DC and New York City Post. Among his professional achievements, Admiral Gardner received the Secretary of Health & Human Services Distinguished Service Award for his work leading numerous projects of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Siokey Gastelum-Galvez, F.SAME
Siokey Gastelum-Galvez has been a dedicated member of the Phoenix Post from her very first year as a member in 2004. She initially volunteered as Newsletter Chair, then Scholarship Chair, followed by five years as Post Secretary. She then progressed to two-time Post President and then Regional Vice President and member of the National Board of Direction and Executive Committee, and then Small Business Council Vice Chair. Gastelum-Galvez has received three RVP medals and 10 Regional Coins for her contributions. For several years, she has worked with the Math Engineering Science Achievement program through Arizona State University, helping increase participation of low-income, minority students in STEM majors. Professionally, over an 18-year career, she has contributed to the successful award of over $1 billion in contracts, largely in the Federal market. She is presently Business & Proposal Development Division Manager for J.G. Management Systems, a Small Disadvantaged Business.
Jackie Hacker, F.SAME
Jackie Hacker has shown dedication and passion for SAME, its mission and the engineering profession every year of her 15-years of member-ship. Within the Greater Kansas City Post, she has held numerous leadership roles including Warriors in Transition Committee Co-Chair; Post Secretary; Post Small Business Committee Chair, and Membership Committee Chair. She is currently the Missouri River Regional Vice President and a member of the National Board of Direction. This past year, she initiated collaboration between the Scott Field Post and Scott Air Force Base to sponsor a new SAME/Air Force STEM camp, which will be held for the first time in 2018. She has been responsible for bringing in 400-plus new members over the years while emphasizing increased participation. Professionally, she is National Small Business Program Director for HDR, which received the 2015 SAME Large Business Award for support to small businesses.
Col. Donald Hall, Ph.D., P.E., F.SAME, USA (Ret.)
Doctor Donald Hall, a retired Army Colonel, has been involved in SAME since he was a Charter member of the University of Michigan Student Chapter in 1978, a chapter that remains thriving today. He is also a Charter Member of the Fort Detrick Post and served as Post President for three years from 2009-2012. Then in 2015 when the Post grew into the new “Mid-Maryland” Post, and expanded the area of recruiting to include everything outside of the DC and Baltimore Beltways and West of the Chesapeake, he served six months as Post President to ensure a solid transition. In his career, as one of the few licensed Professional Engineers in the Army Medical Department, Doctor Hall worked to excel in his role, demonstrating the value of engineers to the department. He is presently Chief of Staff for the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.
Scott Hartung, F.SAME
Scott Hartung has been a dedicated and active member of SAME for over 28 years, including serving as an Executive Board Member for the last 10 years with the Fort Bragg Post, where he was Post President 2011-2013. He currently serves as a Scholarship Committee Member, and has led the awarding of its scholarships for a decade, driving a 50 percent increase in scholarships awarded. He also was Committee Chair behind the 18-month development and implementation of the first Carolinas Region JETS in 2012—which overcame considerable challenges including Superstorm Sandy to be a very successful symposium. Hartung worked in several leadership positions with URS before its merger with AECOM and today is AECOM’s Southeast Environment Business Unit Leader, leading a staff of 400 engineers, scientists, technical specialists, and administrative staff.
Col. John Henderson, P.E., F.SAME, USA (Ret.)
Colonel John Henderson has been a dedicated member of SAME for 23 years, and served in leadership positions with the Vicksburg, Honolulu and Omaha Posts, including serving as Omaha Post President 2016-2017, during which time led it to Distinguished Post status. He held this position while serving as USACE Omaha District Commander, being a leading example of active participation as a military member. Among his achievements, he helped expand the scholarship program, oversaw a very successful Industry Day with over 500 attendees, and worked to better integrate the Post into other Omaha-area STEM initiatives. Colonel Henderson served in numerous leadership positions in the Army. As Omaha District Commander, he oversaw an annual program of $1.5 billion and managed more than 2,500 civil works, MILCON, and inter-agency projects throughout the world. Just two weeks ago, he was named 2018 Federal Engineer of the Year.
Col. Anthony Hofmann, PMP, F.SAME, USA (Ret.)
Colonel Tony Hofmann has been a member of SAME for 13 years. As a leader within the Greater Kansas City Post, he served as Post President in 2012, leveraging his experience to forge close ties with leadership at Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth and Whiteman Air Force Base. Colonel Hoffman also developed the concept for the Post’s Warrior Transition Committee to improve how it assists veterans. This has evolved into a national SAME program he leads and has been adopted by the Pikes Peak and Seattle and Mount Tacoma Posts. His efforts have resulted in 15 Warrior Transition panels since 2014, providing direct assistance to over 400 transitioning veterans. Since starting the Warrior Transition Panels, Greater Kansas City Post Uniformed Membership has increased 80 percent. During his career, Colonel Hoffman served in many leadership positions with the Army, including Commander of USACE Walla Walla District and Kansas City District. He is now Public Works Director for Overland Park, Kansas.
Col. C. Patrick Hogeboom IV, P.E., F.SAME, USA
Colonel Patrick Hogeboom has been a dedicated SAME member for 23 years, serving in many local and national leadership roles. He helped the Columbus/Fort Benning Post earn distinguished Post honors, led a vibrant Student Chapter at Virginia Tech, and served on the National Young Member Council. At the 2005 JETC, he was recognized as the top National Recruiter (for a Medium Post). With the El Paso Post, Colonel Hogeboom served as Post President 2012-2013, and was the Advisor to the University of Texas at El Paso Student Chapter. For four years, he led SAME’s Outreach and Communication Streamer Committee and helped realign the streamer to more closely match the 2020 Strategic Plan. Within the Army, Colonel Hogeboom has served in numerous leadership assignments, including as a battalion commander, brigade engineer, and deputy commander of USACE Transatlantic Afghanistan District. He is currently Plans Branch Chief in the Office of the Chief of Engineers.
Michael Howe, P.E., F.SAME
Michael Howe has been a SAME member for 13 years and been active in the Kittyhawk Post serving on the Board and several committees. He has strived to help the Post grow, increasing STEM outreach, establishing a Student Chapter at Wright State University and increasing Government/Military membership. As part of the Post’s Young Member/Senior Post Leader/Fellows Mentoring Program, he was actively and directly engaged with Young Members who were young professionals at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. As Kittyhawk Post President, he led Host Post planning activities for SAME 2017 JETC in Columbus. In his professional career, Howe has contributed significantly to military engineering by working in various civilian positions in the 88th Civil Engineer Group at Wright-Patterson the last 32 years. He has been instrumental in the investment of nearly $1.5 billion in critical facility and infrastructure repairs and new construction to support the diverse missions of the Base.
Col. Jennifer Kilbourn, F.SAME, USAF (Ret.)
Colonel Jennifer Kilbourn has served at the Post level in numerous positions over 10 years, including Member Co-Chair, Young Member committee member and President of both the Middle Post and the Virginia Peninsula Post. She is an ardent supporter of Society goals, including K-12 outreach and STEM activities, led numerous fund raising efforts to provide scholarships and provided opportunities for students to attend SAME Engineering and Construction Camps. As President of the Virginia Peninsula Post 2015-2017 she led it to Distinguished Post Honors and the Top Medium Post Award. Within the Air Force, she has been a leader, both in garrison and deployed. Her efforts have improved Civil Engineering support assuring combat readiness and mission capability. She recently retired from the Air Force. In her last position, she was Chief of the Civil Engineer Division at Air Combat Command.
Col. Miroslav Kurka, P.E., PMP, F.SAME, USA (Ret.)
Colonel Miro Kurka joined SAME in 2004 and has been a very active member of every post where he has lived including: Tulsa, Afghanistan, and Portland. Under his leadership, the Tulsa Post was named the Top Medium Post in SAME in 2006. He has held been Programs Chair at both Portland and Tulsa Posts, for a total of over four years and executed interesting programs that resulted in record attendance In 2016, he helped lead organization of the first SAME Post Issues Workshops, bringing local infrastructure challenges to the forefront for technical discussion. As an Army officer, Colonel Kurka commanded two USACE Districts and delivered outstanding support to military customers, coalition/interagency partners and the U.S. public. In the private sector, he has managed projects for the Army National Guard and USACE among other clients. Since 2013, he has been the Water Resources Group Leader with Mead & Hunt.
Mike Mason, P.E., F.SAME
Mike Mason has been an active member of SAME in 2002, serving as Post President two different terms, as well as Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary for the Cape Fear Post as well as Secretary of the Coastal Carolina Post. Significant highlights under his leadership include the Cape Fear Post earning the Top Small Post in 2015. Mason is the driver behind the Post’s hosting of Reaction Course Day for the Marine Corps Engineering and Construction Camp at Camp Lejeune, recruiting and sponsoring students, mentors, and volunteers. His outstanding mentorship is directly attributable to over a dozen Young Members joining the society, and participating in numerous Post activities. Mason has worked for CATLIN Engineers & Scientists since 1987, first as a Project Manager and since 2001 as Vice President, where he has exceled in leading contamination remediation on U.S. Navy and Marine Corps sites.
Susan Merrigan, FSMPS, CPSM, F.SAME
Susan Merrigan has made significant contributions during her 19 years of membership, including as President of the Washington DC Post. She has served in leadership roles at the national, regional and local levels and provided hands-on involvement in mentoring, professional development, education and training. She has twice served on the organization committees for the highly successful DC Post Scholarship Galas. Washington DC was selected as Distinguished Post from 2013 through 2017, and thrived in part due to her leadership in many board roles. Last year she received the SAME National President’s Coin for outstanding service in the planning and execution of the DC/NoVA Posts 10th Annual Small Business Conference as Co-Chair. Merrigan is a highly accomplished marketing professional with a successful 20-year track record in the A/E/C industry, using her talents to increase sales and lower expenses in each professional role. She is currently Senior Marketing Manager with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Col. Shawn Moore, F.SAME, USAF
Air Force colonel Shawn Moore has supported SAME through over the past 15 years. He served as Emerald Coast Post President, Readiness Chair of the Hickam Post, Middle East Post Programs Chair, and Kittyhawk Post Young Members Co-Chair. He is currently Ohio Valley Regional Vice President and a member of the National Board of Direction. Colonel Moore is also a member of the new National Membership and Recruitment Working Group where he serves as the Air Force lead. As Commander of Air Force Installations and Mission Support Center Detachment 6 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, he is currently in his ninth year of cumulative command—earning him the honorable distinction of “CE Bulldog”. He is the senior Civil Engineering colonel with the most years of command experience across the Air Force, a definitive testament and affirmation of his outstanding leadership.
Angela Nocera, P.E., F.SAME
Angela Nocera has been an active member in SAME since 2006 and is currently serving as Elected Director on the National Board of Direction. She serves on multiple committees with the Mobile Post and was the Post President in 2014. She also currently serves on the Panama City Post Board of Direction, and is involved with the SAME National Young Member Council and STEM Committee. Her greatest passion is STEM outreach. She is Director of the annual Girls Exploring Math & Science Program, a workshop where middle-school girls and their parents explore STEM career paths. Nocera received the SAME Young Member Medal in 2015 and was recognized as the Mobile Area Council of Engineers Young Engineer of the Year in 2012. Professionally, she has over 11 years of experience as a Civil Engineering consultant, and has conducted environmental investigations on hundreds of military properties. She is currently a Civil Associate with Michael Baker International.
Cdr. Allen Osborne, P.E., F.SAME, USN (Ret.)
Commander Al Osbourne has been a passionate leader within SAME since 2004 as a member of the Greater Kansas City Post. He is focused on STEM education, recruiting active-duty members, and mentoring transitioning warriors. He has served on numerous committees, among them Industry Day Committee, Small Business, Education and Mentoring, Programs, and Warrior Transition. He served as Post President in 2016, during which time he led establishment of the Command & General Staff College Field Chapter, championed expanded funding for scholarships and stipends by 50 percent, and increased efforts to engage Young Members. Commander Osbourne served 22 years in the U.S. Navy, with leadership roles as a Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Department Head, and Division Officer. As an industry professional, he has pursued and managed A/E/C programs and projects vital to national security. He is currently Business Development and Federal Compliance Manager with Tepa LLC.
Russell Patterson, GISP, F.SAME
Russell Patterson has provided 14 years of outstanding leadership to SAME and the Charleston Post—from his appointment as Secretary to his current position as Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee. At the national level, he has organized or facilitated two multi-regional conferences, several industry-government engagement events, and a professional development seminar for the U.S. Public Health Service. In 2016, he was Chair of the Southeaster Tri-Regional JETS; then in 2017, he Chaired the Charleston Post Issues Workshop. This forum featured industry leaders and senior government officials in a dialogue on challenges facing service-disabled veteran-owned business contracting. As GIS coordinator and Project Manager for CEMS Engineering | Architecture, Patterson manages projects ranging from SRM design to facilities asset management. He is a recognized change agent in the geospatial community, where he has provided technical expertise in the implementation of geospatial solutions to Air Force and Navy installations.
Lt. Col. William Sabata, P.E., F.SAME, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant Colonel Bill Sabata has been a dedicated member and vital contributor to SAME for almost 40 years. He has served continuously on the Executive Board of the Fort Bragg Post since joining it 15 years ago and twice served as the Post President. He has excelled in numerous positions of leadership, both elected and appointed. During the periods of his leadership, he reestablished a long-dormant Student Post Program, increased Sustaining Member numbers, reenergized and expanded the Post’s Scholarship Program, and started a Home Fix-It initiative for families of deployed soldiers. Professionally, Colonel Sabata has moved from decorated Corps of Engineers officer to engineering educator and finally to innovating private consultant. Among his military leadership positions, during Desert Storm, he was Chief of Engineer Plans and Operations, Third US Army. He currently is President of ES & GS Services, an environmental services company he founded in 2017.
Richard Stump, RA, F.SAME
Rich Stump has been an active member of SAME since 2004. He currently serves as the Pacific Regional Vice President and as a member of the National Board of Direction and the Executive Committee. He also is active with the International Committee and serves on the board of two Posts. As the Pacific RVP, Stump was instrumental in keeping the Korea Post alive and re-invigorating its membership. As a member of the Guam Post Board, in 2013, he helped establish a Field Chapter in Manila. He has also been an active member of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, for more than 13 years, and served as its Chairperson for three years. Stump, who served as a Civil Engineering Officer in the Air Force from 1996-2000, has worked for Stanley Consultants since 2001. In his role as Vice President and Client Service Manager, he has led and participated in projects, programs, and joint venture teams in 39 countries and OCONUS locations on six continents.
Lt. Cdr. Kevin Vogelsang, P.E., F.SAME, USN (Ret.)
Lieutenant Commander Kevin Vogelsang has been an active SAME member for over 36 years with four Posts, including the Shreveport Post where he was Secretary, Vice President, and then President from 1998-1999. He is currently a member of the San Diego Post, where he has been a board member, chaired the Wounded Warrior Committee, and served as Treasurer since 2014. At the national level, he is a member of the Energy & Sustainability Committee, and in 2000 and 2013, served on the local planning committee for the SAME National Conference. Commander Vogelsang served 19 years as a Civil Engineer Corps officer. He was involved in numerous disaster recovery operations, from the Loma Prieta Earthquake to six typhoons during his time in Guam. He is now a Project Manager with Burns and McDonnell, where among his achievements, he provided management of design for the largest Marine Corps microgrid to date at Twentynine Palms.
Col. Scott Warner, P.E., PMP, F.SAME, USAF
Colonel Scott Warner has been an active leader in SAME for 20 years. He is currently President of the Honolulu Post and has been a Post President for a total of five years to include two at Honolulu, one year at the Kaiserslautern Post, and two years at Scott Field Post. As Honolulu Post President, he organized the first Regional Post Leaders Workshop and also led the two-day 2017 Pacific Industry. Colonel Warner has also served on two National Committees: Emergency Preparedness & Homeland Security Committee, and Energy & Sustainment Committee. Colonel Warner has served over 27 years in the Air Force. He has commanded two Civil Engineer Squadrons and one Civil Engineer Group, as well as serving at the Major Command and Air Staff levels. He currently is the Chief of the Pacific Division, Facilities Engineering Directorate, Air Force Civil Engineer Center.
Jeffrey Williamson, P.E., F.SAME
Jeff Williamson has been a member of the Omaha Post since 1985 and has held many leadership positions, including serving as President 2005-2006. His contributions have materially affected the success of the Omaha Post in many areas, including financial stability, leadership succession, and education and mentoring. During his tenure as President, he re-energized the University of Nebraska at Omaha Student Chapter and worked with the Rock Island Post to start a chapter at Iowa State. His most significant contribution has been leadership in the Industry Days and Regional Conferences. He continues to serve as a mentor and active participant in Post activities, providing guidance and recommendations on operations and activities. Professionally, he has served in multiple operational and business development roles, including managing multi-year programs valued at over $100 million. He is currently Vice President and Regional Business Line Leader for AECOM’s 13-state Midwest Region.
Gerald C. Brown Mentoring Award Winner –
Heather Wishart-Smith, P.E., PMP, LEED AP, F.SAME, F.ASCE
Heather Wishart-Smith, P.E., PMP, LEED AP BD+C, F.SAME, a Vice President with Jacobs and a former U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps officer, has consistently demonstrated her commitment to advancing others in SAME and the engineering profession. Through deep and lasting mentoring relationships, she has advised and coached younger professionals as they advance in their careers, offering detailed development plans, career coaching, and professional connections. With a “lift as you rise” mindset, she encourages her mentees to support and mentor others. Demonstrating the importance of the mentoring continuum, she has advised and sponsored scholarship recipients including through internships and even eventual employment at her firm—one began as a middle school science fair award winner. Nationally within SAME, as the Academy of Fellows Vice Chair for Mentoring and the Young Member Council Vice Chair for Mentoring & Recognition, Wishart-Smith elevated the visibility and importance of mentoring and provided tools to help others mentor more effectively. She has communicated the importance of mentoring and the engineering profession through talks and presentations to audiences from kindergarten through Student Chapters to Fellows. Wishart-Smith has sponsored many Young Members at SAME meetings, conferences, and STEM events that have resulted in these mentees assuming leadership roles at the Post and National level, and endorsed or nominated nine members for awards or Fellow. She also mentors youth in the community as a Girl Scout leader and Sunday School teacher.
