In May, I was honored to receive the President's Medal from the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). The award recognized my involvement in this organization at the local, regional, and national levels. I have been a member of SAME since 1984.

Advancing our Profession

Like many engineers, I am involved in a number of professional organizations, and continue to be impressed with the vision, camaraderie, and opportunities that these groups offer. Most importantly, whether it's the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), or another such organization, they are making a difference in advancing our profession; improving our communities; and connecting with important constituencies in government, education, the private sector, and the general public. As an example, consider the impact that ASCE has had nationally with its annual publication of the ASCE "report card" on public infrastructure.

SAME is no exception. For nearly 30 years, I've been impressed with the dedication of its membership and the ethic of hard work and integrity we bring to each task. It has been my privilege to serve as a director on the SAME national board and as the Mid-Atlantic regional vice president. I've worked on many committees and conferences, and had an opportunity to publish articles in the Military Engineer. But the most rewarding challenge to date has been the opportunity to co-chair the SAME Warrior Transition Task Force with my colleague CMSgt Mike Doris (USA, ret.), the CEO of MikDar Group, International.

A Superior Work Ethic

Now in its second year, the Warrior Transition Task Force is actively working on programs and opportunities for departing service members—specifically military engineers—to transition into the civilian workforce. In many cases, these service members have strong training and skill sets but need assistance with certifications from recognized accreditation bodies. We are working with all branches of the service as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET), an affiliate of NSPE. Our initial task has been to focus on technician-level accreditations, and then on skills such as Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Construction Manager (CCM) for veterans who are not eligible to become registered as professional engineers.

Clearly, this program has the potential to help both veterans and the profession as we match opportunities and credentials with service members' experience and training. Service members bring exceptional focus, discipline, and a superior work ethic to their jobs. The task force is one of many outstanding initiatives organized by SAME, and I look forward to continuing to support this effort.