Neal T. Wright, PE, PMP, FSAME, FASC, Dewberry vice president and director of DOD business development, was awarded the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) President's Medal at the organization's annual conference in San Diego last month. The award was presented to Wright in recognition of his outstanding leadership and accomplishments with the organization at the national, regional, and local levels. Wright, a retired lieutenant colonel who served in the engineer branch of the U.S. Army, has been an active member of SAME since 1984.

"You have been one of SAME's superstars," Anthony F. Leketa, PE, SES (Ret.), F.SAME, noted. According to Leketa, Wright's selection was based on his leadership in support of the SAME Strategic Plan, serving as an elected director on the SAME national board and as Mid-Atlantic regional vice president, ongoing activity with his local posts, leadership in regional conferences, and published work. Wright is also serving as co-chairman of SAME's Warrior Transition Task Force.

The Warrior Transition Task Force focuses on transitioning military engineers into the civilian workforce, including identifying appropriate registrations and certifications available to departing service members. The task force will also work to match retiring or separating service members' training and skill sets to certifications from recognized accreditation bodies. "We are looking to assist service members, specifically from the enlisted engineering ranks of all three branches, as they transition out of the military," said Wright. "These service members may have sound technical skills, but may not have all of the credentials they need, and we want to support them."

A registered professional engineer (PE) and certified project management professional (PMP), Wright has been recognized with the status of Fellow by three national professional organizations: SAME, the National Society of Professional Engineers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Based in Dewberry's Virginia Beach, Virginia office, Wright oversees Dewberry's national initiatives for delivering consulting services to the U.S. Department of Defense. He has more than 35 years of experience and has also served as an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and as chief engineer for a major commercial port. Wright holds a master's degree in civil engineering from North Carolina State University and a bachelor's degree in environmental planning from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.