Strap in folks, because 2018 is off to a record-breaking start! Our commitment to collaboration continues to produce opportunities for SAME to impact our country.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has asked us to plan and run its National Small Business Engagement and collocate it this year in New Orleans with our Federal Small Business Conference! The 2018 SAME Federal Small Business Conference for the A/E/C Industry—Oct. 31-Nov. 2—will be our largest yet and brings us one step closer to achieving our vision of making that conference the one-stop market research event for the federal government and the A/E/C industry (“Go Big!”).
In February, we welcomed Vice Adm. Mary Jackson, USN, Commander, Navy Installations Command, and Lt. Gen. Kenneth Dahl, USA, Commanding General, Army Installation Management Command to the SAME-IFMA Facilities Management Workshop in San Antonio. All the services are recognizing that growing event for its graduate-level professional programs, business opportunity engagements, leading-edge standards that our partners offer, and the chance to discuss interagency policy. We are also excited to welcome our new supporting partner, APPA, bringing the university facilities management perspective.
The 2018 SAME Capital Week (March 6-7) is poised to move the needle as we build on the results of our CEO Round Table this past November. In addition to the Engineering Chiefs Panel at the DOD & Federal Agency Program Briefings on Tuesday, The Honorable Lucien Niemeyer, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations & Environment will provide an update on the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s progress toward a project partnering policy being developed by SAME and our industry partners. The event also will feature staff members of the House Armed Services Committee who will discuss future years’ defense budgets. On March 7, we will welcome our new class of Fellows and honor two distinguished Americans with the Golden Eagle Award: Gen. Craig McKinley, USAF (Ret.), and Col. Ed Gibson, F.SAME, USA (Ret.). We look forward to furthering our contributions to national security as we gather in our nation’s capital (“Find Your Passion!”).
Collectively, SAME and our strategic partners are engaged in a host of leadership, mentoring, and technical training activities to help build America’s future.
The 2018 Joint Engineer Training Conference in Kansas City (May 23-25) will have something for everyone. Central to the event will be the New Madrid Fault Table Top Exercise, which is drawing tremendous interest from federal and state agencies and private industry.
You will also hear from a true American hero, Mark Nutsch, Commander of the Special Forces A-Team (Horse Soldiers) depicted in the movie 12 Strong, and celebrate the very best of the Society at annual awards ceremonies (“Have Fun!”).
Equally exciting right now is the momentum being generated by our Posts and Committees & Councils as they implement their action plans for the “Run to 2020 and Beyond.” Two of the most important efforts that will produce lasting impacts are STEM outreach and SAME’s Camps Program. A recent highlight for me was visiting with high school students in January from the Technology Student Association (our partner) at a joint Pikes Peak Post/Denver Metro Post event. Not only were the students each impressive, they exemplified the passion for solving infrastructure challenges that we strive to encourage in our members.
Collectively, SAME and our strategic partners are engaged in a host of leadership, mentoring, and technical training activities to help build America’s future. NOW is the time to engage in what you are passionate about and make a difference that will last beyond your lifetime. Again, my heartfelt thanks to every one of you for getting 2018 off to a terrific start!
[Article first published in the March-April 2018 issue of The Military Engineer.]
