Program Impact

Society Mission

Build leaders and lead collaboration among government and industry to develop multidisciplined solutions to national security infrastructure challenges.

Vision

Serve our nation as the foremost integrator for leadership development and technical collaboration within the A/E/C profession.

2025 Strategic Outcome

Set the industry standard for active membership that creates lasting impact at the local and national levels.

Overview

For 100 years, SAME has been dedicated to patriotism and national security. As we start our second century, we hope members are inspired to further advance these aims of service through building leaders and leading collaboration across the spectrum of our involvement.

Through its programs, SAME offers Posts and members the opportunity to help achieve this goal. Program outcomes present a diversity of impact that ensures the Society endures for the next 100 years.

Leader Development Program Impact

Developed with support from the SAME Foundation, LDP identifies and cultivates talent from within the SAME membership to address the nation’s grand challenges. Participants explore individual strengths and team dynamics. The program supports the development of the next generation of world class military, government, civilian, and industry leaders for the Society and our Nation.

As part of the LDP, participants identify and develop projects that address some gap with in SAME or the A/E/C industry. The project’s impact can be categorized in three areas:

I. Adding to the Body of Industry Knowledge

SAME Exemplar Program, Blake Hege (Class of 2021)
Over the last 100 years, there have been countless leaders who have influenced the growth and development of the United States. Some of these leaders have been engineers, architects, and builders. It is my belief that our country will be better served if we take time to recognize and learn from these past leaders. My recommendation – kick off the Society’s second century by establishing an Exemplar Program that highlights the accomplishments and values of leaders from our nation’s history. Each year, the society’s newly accepted fellows and LDP participants will select an Exemplar that represents the absolute best ideals of SAME and its members. These Exemplars will be selected under a guiding set of criteria that the SAME board will establish. Once selected, the exemplar will become the namesake of the society for that year, offering a guiding light for mentorship programs, volunteer opportunities, and professional development. By understanding our past, we can better chart our future.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Emotional Intelligence Training Tool (EIT2), Scott Turygan (Class of 2021)
This project analyzed the emotional intelligence (EI) scores of the SAME 2020-21 LDP participants. It identified trends of EI deficiencies for the LDP participant sample group that likely correspond to the larger community of engineers and project managers. The project developed a yearlong training tool of focused effort to improve these engineer EI deficiencies. It places particular emphasis on the following four EI factors that are most deficient: emotional self-awareness, empathy, emotional expression, and interpersonal relationships. The training tool compiles broad scientific research findings into a holistic method applied ten minutes daily. The training tool aims to internalize desired behaviors for measurable improvements in an engineer’s EI.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube Link)
Final Presentation slides
FInal Report
Transitioning to Leadership – Congratulations! You’ve been Promoted – Now What?, Vincent Plocido (Class of 2021)
For many of us, we’ve spent our careers honing our craft, enhancing our technical abilities, staying up on the latest trends in our fields. But what happens when the next step in our career is a transition to management? Sure, we know how to execute projects, meet deadlines, and keep projects on budget, but for some, the transition to management brings many unexpected changes that we are ill-equipped to deal with. This project was to assemble and moderate a panel of other young leaders to discuss some of the unexpected difficulties of being promoted into a leadership position. This project was presented at Virtual JETC 2021.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Leading Resilient Organizations, Josh Carroll (Class of 2021)
Tenets of the Pandemic Response Posture incorporate strengthening partnerships within and across industries during the uncertainty of a pandemic. Though this research does not lend itself to standardizing mutual aid agreements or establishing contracts between organizations, the concepts of resiliency lead organizations to establish redundancy, robustness, and resourcefulness in its processes, to include relationships with outside entities. Further, through future research the Society could find parallels in this project and similar work in internet technology, architecture, engineering and construction, health engineering, and other sectors to reinforce or expand on best practices identified.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
PM Management Theory for Design and Construction Projects, Tasmin Brown (Class of 2021)
Much of engineering and construction project management methodology is proven and has been tested on projects throughout the world. The field of human behavior and project management has matured significantly over the last 20 years. Integrating recent human resources, project, and strategic management concepts could improve project delivery effectiveness and efficiency. Proven leadership concepts may need to adapt to current circumstances.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Leveraging Efficiency to Increase Resiliency, Sean Lebel (Class of 2020)
The National Defense Strategy has challenged us “to succeed in the emerging security environment… to out-think, out-maneuver, out-partner, and out-innovate” our adversaries.
-- Balancing energy savings projects with energy security and resiliency
-- Need to leverage existing financing tools to increase resiliency and energy security
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Leadership in the AEC, Craig Bryant (Class of 2020)
SAME has the opportunity to provide premier leader development to the A/E/C community. SAME must understand what echelons of leaders are most in need of development; what leadership knowledge/skills, and abilities are in need of development; and understand and overcome existing road blocks to leader development.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Industry-Government Mentoring: Addressing “The Gap” & Can We Bridge It?, Holly Bigelow (Class of 2020)
As someone who started their career as an active duty Air Force civil engineer and then a few years later transferred to the A/E/C industry I have witnessed first-hand the power of perception on each side of the fence. An underlying culture exists where the Government has certain thoughts on how the industry operates and the industry has perceptions of the Government. However, there is a mutual benefit to both sides to lessen and ultimately eliminate these perceptions.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Measuring Leadership, Zakary Payne (Class of 2020)
Developing a framework to measure the overall effectiveness of the Leadership Development Program (LDP) as it relates to the mission, vision and long-term sustainability if our society. Creating LDP and supporting the program requires an investment from the society and its members in terms of both time and money. The society’s expectation is that there will be a return on that investment, but it is unclear what that return should be and there is no way currently to measure its effectiveness.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report

II. Developing Best Practices

Communications Planning Tool for Communities of Interest and Posts, Summer Gladden (Class of 2021)
Effective communications involve more than simply creating social media posts and sending e-mails to members. In a volunteer organization, though, regularity and quality of communications can be a challenge across all Communities of Interest. To determine how to best assist the leaders of Communities of Interest, Chairs and Vice Chairs of Communications were surveyed and the results analyzed to determine what resources would be most useful. This project culminated in a toolkit that goes beyond offering best practices and can be used by Vice Chairs of Communications to promote consistent and engaging communications for Communities of Interest.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Post Mentoring Program Toolkit: Post Scholarship Recipients, Bruce Preston, Ree Miskimon, and Pete Diaz (Class of 2021)
The purpose of the project is to develop a post-level toolkit with an assembly of best practices, templates, and tips for a scholarship recipient mentoring program. This UPIC came about because of the passion this team holds for mentoring and supporting the Society’s goals to create tomorrow’s leaders and enrich the stem pipeline for the nation.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
SAME Guided Pathway for Students and Young Professionals, Arpan Patel (Class of 2021)
The goal of this utilization project was to develop a tool that could be used by the COIs or shared down to the post levels and volunteers as a resource to enable the return on investment the Society put into students pursuing STEM opportunities.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Using an App to Manage SAME E&C Camp Operations, Erin Krug and Claudia Penny (Class of 2020)
The purpose of the utilization project is to identify and address a gap or opportunity within the Society. The SAME Camps mobile application project addresses the need to have a unified information delivery system during the week of a SAME Engineering and Construction Camp.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Increasing Mentor and Camper Applicants Through Enhanced Marketing, Melissa Lewis, Tricia Graham, and Ben Nichols (Class of 2020)
SAME camps have largely been operating independently over the course of the last 20 years and there has not been a consistent National strategic recruiting campaign to assist in developing growth and retaining the most talented campers and mentors. Our goal and mission for the project was to assist National in establishing a camp recruiting campaign by refreshing marketing materials/applications, recommending a professional video, recommending a targeted social media campaign, and reaching out to other STEM organizations to establish strategic partnerships.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Establishing a Camp Curriculum Inventory, Mark DeSouza, Angela Gomez, and Jorge Rodriguez (Class of 2020)
How do SAME Posts, STEM camp directors, and others access well-rounded, proven curriculum used across the Society? Create an SAME online library of activities and curriculum, ranging from multiple day engineering tasks to simple STEM ice-breakers, as well as inclement weather activities.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
A How-To Guide for Camps, Ilana Almquist and Mike Guaigua (Class of 2020)
Revise/update existing SAME Camps checklist to support camp directors in the execution of their respective camps.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides

III. Expanding the Presence of SAME

American Indian/Alaska Native (Al/AN) STEM Outreach, TJ Fakler, Kevin Remley, Colleen Rust (Class of 2021)
There is a great need among the AI/AN communities for support of AI/AN youth to be engaged in education, graduate from high school, and have a desire to pursue post-secondary education through trade schools or a formal college/university education. Those among the AI/AN population that choose to pursue these avenues provide themselves with opportunities to be successful economically and the ability to return and help improve conditions within their native communities.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Establish SAME Field Chapter in Meridian, MS, Kristi Gordon (Class of 2021)
The focus of my project was to facilitate Industry-Government engagement in the region, directly aligning with SAME’s Strategic Goal 1, by partnering with the Vicksburg Post to establish a Field Chapter in Meridian, Mississippi. This project sought to bring together regional A/E/C talent, expand opportunities for small businesses, and improve cooperation between the public and private sectors. The final outcome is a report on the number of partners reached, best practices and a plan for continued engagement. Ultimately, the end goal is to build the foundation for a sustained SAME presence in east Mississippi that continues to meet the needs of the A/E/C community while advancing the strategic goals of SAME.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Partnering with DODEA Pacific, Aaron Kotlarz (Class of 2021)
This project grew out of a desire to deepen relationships between the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) school system in Japan and the Japan Post of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). The DODEA school system in Japan consists of two school districts, DODEA Pacific East and DODEA Pacific South. DODEA Pacific East schools are based in mainland Japan and DODEA Pacific South comprising schools on the island of Okinawa in the south of Japan. The SAME Japan Post covers the entirety of Japan, with the location of the Post leadership shifting during this project period from the island of Okinawa to the Tokyo metropolitan area where headquarters elements of the Air Force, Army, and Navy are located in Japan.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
SAME Strategic Partner Analysis, Chris Joseph (Class of 2021)
The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) currently maintains dozens of strategic partnerships with organizations supporting our five lines of effort (LOEs) as outlined in the 2025 SAME Strategic Plan. An analysis was conducted resulting in two key recommendations for further development of these partnerships to include: (1) Formal and deliberate engagement with Community of Interest (COI) leadership to identify, maintain and grow partnerships and (2) Analysis of past and forecasting of future government appropriations to identify spending trends to influence how we continue to lead future Industry-Government engagement for our Nation.
Final Presentation Recording Not Available
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Increase Local SAME Participation, Jared Matthews (Class of 2021)
The objective of my LDP project was to analyze why some SAME posts struggle with volunteers. After a few quick discussions with both local and national stakeholders, it became apparent that this is a monumental task. This project will be a small beginning to completing that task. I broke it down into three smaller tasks that I would be able to dive into with fervor. First, I wanted to look at it from the perspective of a SAME volunteer and determine what current resources and tools were at my disposable at the national level. Then, I looked at it from a Local point of view and reviewed the resources at that level. Finally, I complied all this intel into the report below. At a national level SAME should create standards for all the positions at all levels. They also need a quick roadmap to help volunteers navigate through this jungle of information. Then they need to organize the data in a quick, easily searchable website so that anyone looking to volunteer can see what is involved and how it will benefit them.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
SAME Module at Sergeants Major Course, SMSgt Philip McAlpin, Jr. (Class of 2021)
If we were able to send a representative to branch week, a week dedicated to educating members in their respective occupations (Engineer Branch), we could potentially recruit future Senior Enlisted Leaders as members. These members can then share their knowledge and experience of SAME to their future units and junior members. By providing this opportunity and using the SAME credentialing and certification program, I anticipate all Engineer students attending the SMC will join and then encourage their junior enlisted members to join at their follow-on units. This will create a growth in recruitment and interest in the Society.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Report
Establishing a Field Chapter, Sam Lee (Class of 2020)
For several years the Seattle Post has been trying to establish a field chapter in the vicinity of Naval Base Kitsap on the West side of Puget Sound. Despite a large Navy presence in the Northwest Region, the Seattle Post has always had sporadic involvement from NAVFAC. Establishing a Kitsap Field Chapter will strengthen the Seattle Post and Northwest region of SAME and improve opportunities for Government Industry Engagement in the area.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
SAME-in-a-Box: A Toolkit for Deployed Servicemembers, Brendan Maestas (Class of 2020)
My idea for enhancing SAME support to deployers was to develop some sort of “SAME in a box” type kit that could be sent to deployers. The effort is affectionately named “SEND-IT” as working title, after a common phrase servicemembers use while deployed. This phrase became a frequent reprise whenever we were trying to decide whether or not an expeditionary solution was adequate in our engineering judgement. In this case, “SEND-IT” stands for the SAME Expeditionary Networking & Development Information Toolkit.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report
Reinforcing a Student Chapter, Stephen Shattuck (Class of 2020)
A framework to guide the operations of the University of West Florida (UWF) Student Chapter, sponsored by the Pensacola Post, is needed in order to reduce the gap in capacity and facilitate a strengthened partnership between students and professionals.
Final Presentation Recording (YouTube link)
Final Presentation slides
Final Report

LDP Presence at VJETC2021

On May 20, 2021, four participants in the LDP program and one of the program instructors provided an excellent presentation on transitioning to leadership.

Realities of Leadership--Congratulations! You've Been Promoted. Now What?

Many ambitious professionals have goals to lead a team, company, division, or military or corporate headquarters. But are they prepared to be promoted? In this session, a panel of leaders at various career stages will shed light on the unexpected challenges of transitioning to leadership.

Moderator: Vincent Plocido, Senior Planner, WSP

Speaker: Ted Studdard, Business to Business Operations Manager, The Home Depot

Speaker: Colleen Rust, Project Manager, PG-WA, PMP, Sundance Consulting Inc.

Speaker: Josh Carroll, Major, USAF

Speaker: Kevin Remley, Senior Environmental Engineer, United States Public Health Service

This presentation was the culmination of Vincent Plocido's project and underscores the legacy the Leader Development Program will have on the Society.

Submit a Project Idea

The Utilization Project Implementation Capstone (UPIC) requires that LDP participants make use of the leadership skills they gain through the program. By initiating, leading, and completing a project, they apply their knowledge, as well as provide service, leadership, and value to the Society and our members.

Projects can vary due to the participant’s interest, chosen level of Society participation (Post, Regional, or National), local or national committee interests/needs, and availability to provide service to any SAME member, Federal Agency, SAME strategic partner, Posts, Regions, or SAME National. All projects are coordinated with their mentors and approved by the SAME Executive Director to ensure tangible and valuable outcomes.

To submit a project idea for the incoming LDP class, email Jeannine Finton, LDP Program Manager, at jfinton@same.org.

Testimonials

In addition to impact to the Society, LDP helps the participants grow into the leaders SAME needs. These quotes were pulled from the end-of-program evaluation and speak to the impact of the program on the participants.

“I feel closer to SAME and more vested in the future. My cohort was amazing!”

“Completing an assessment and learning about yourself is key.”

“I was able to work with my mentor to identify growth opportunities and areas of improvement.”

“The most effective part of the program was direct interaction with other LDP members.”

“Celebrating diversity creates stronger organizations and leads to better decision making, wasn’t really discussed, should be a topic.”

“I think the LDP is an excellent program that is meeting a need in the A/E/C community. As the program continues to develop and evolve it will pay dividends to participants, the Society, and organizations across the A/E/C community.”

“I will finish strong as Post President in 2020 and look for opportunities to continue serving at both the local and national levels.”

“I have become more self-aware…and thoughtful of my actions as a leader.”

Class Demographics

Class	Occupation Sector	Position	Gender	Race	Military Service
2022	32% Private Sector 47% Public Sector (DoD) 21% Public Sector (non-DoD)	42% Project Manager 42% Engineer 16% Marketing or Business Development	47% Male 53% Female	90% White 5% Asian or Pacific Islander 5% Black or African American	22% Active Duty 0% Veteran 6% Reserve/National Guard 72% Never Served
2021	33% Private Sector 60% Public Sector (DoD) 7% Public Sector (non-DoD)	27% Project Manager 60% Engineer 13% Marketing or Business Development	73% Male 27% Female	93% White 7% Asian or Pacific Islander	40% Active Duty 0% Veteran 13% Reserve/National Guard 47% Never Served
2020	46% Private Sector 46% Public Sector (DoD) 8% Public Sector (non-DoD)	61% Project Manager 31% Engineer 8% Marketing or Business Development	70% Male 30% Female	85% White 15% Hispanic/Latino	31% Active Duty 31% Veteran 7% Reserve/National Guard 31% Never Served

46% Private Sector
46% Public Sector (DoD)
8% Public Sector (non-DoD)