Every year, Engineers Week allows us to celebrate our problem-solvers and inspire the next generation. We asked our thought leaders to think about this year’s theme, “Transform Your Future,” which looks at how engineering shapes not only the built environment, but our opportunities, our communities, and the future we imagine for ourselves and our children.
Where is the Industry Today, and Where is it Going?
Andrew Dahlman, Senior Associate, Senior Project Manager, Glen Allen, Virginia
In the energy sector, we’re focused on increasing speed to market, so expediting delivery while maintaining quality. This is paramount as new technology is being incorporated into the grid and demand begins to outpace capacity. To meet rising demand, investment in transmission line projects has increased, expanding available grid capacity. On the technology side, solar innovations such as terrain-tracking systems, new mounting and racking assemblies, and bi-facial panels are maximizing energy yield. In nuclear, we’re seeing more capital in small modular reactors (SMRs), which can be built as self-contained units and distributed to create a grid. As we transition to new grid models, battery energy storage systems (BESS) are supporting integration and stabilization. Aligning emerging technologies with existing reliable technology such as natural gas is how I see this sector evolving to meet demand. It’s an exciting frontier for energy—one that could transform how we power our world.
Aaron Edmonson, Senior Associate, National Flood Resilience Program Manager, New York, New York
My resilience career began in New Orleans, Louisiana, responding to Hurricane Katrina, a Category 3 hurricane that submerged over 80% of the city and caused an estimated $108 billion in damages. This event marked the first large-scale, metropolitan resilience effort. At the time, the industry was heavily focused on gray infrastructure, or concrete solutions, like flood walls, sector gates, and tide gates. Today, communities want more. Especially in coastal and riverine areas, people recognize the need for protection from extreme weather but don’t want to be closed off entirely. By incorporating green infrastructure, like living shorelines, salt marshes, and detention basins, with traditional gray infrastructure, we are not only accommodating our communities but also supporting our environments. Resilience has come a long way since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It’s about building interactive infrastructure that protects lives, communities, and habitats.
Andy Kioko, Associate Vice President, Senior Project Manager, Fairfax, Virginia
Alternative project delivery (APD) is rapidly becoming the delivery of choice in a variety of markets. In fact, the Design-Build Institute of America projects nearly half of U.S. construction spending to be APD driven by 2028. Unlike traditional design-bid-build, APD can adapt and pivot to stakeholder needs, regulatory shifts, and environmental requirements. This is changing what we mean by efficiency. It’s no longer just staying under budget and on schedule. It’s greater integration between the designers, contractors, and owners, stronger risk management, and more room for innovation. Today, transportation is the largest market for APD. However, we’re also seeing high-risk markets such as water/wastewater and vertical construction leverage alternative delivery methods. I expect this to continue as more owners adopt APD to combat market volatility.
Leslie Mantiply, Associate Vice President, Deputy Business Unit Manager, Danville, Virginia
From a water/wastewater perspective, there’s been more focus on how consumers use and reuse water. This is driving regulations, business decisions for our clients, and funding opportunities for capital improvements. As we’re striving to be good stewards of our natural resources, design practices and technology are continuing to innovate and rethink how we treat, reuse, and recycle water. In geographies like the west where availability of water is a growing concern and highly regulated, our teams must find ways to conserve on a large scale. For example, in our wastewater treatment systems, we’re looking at how we can reuse effluent for potable or agricultural purposes. Additionally, emerging contaminants and forever chemicals (PFAS) are becoming more regulated, driving nationwide investment in existing infrastructure. How we approach our designs to meet these requirements is driving our business and partnership with our clients. It’s imperative that we serve as advocates for our clients by informing them of new regulations to help prepare both operationally and financially.
How Can the Next Generation Carry it Forward?
Andrew Dahlman, Senior Associate, Senior Project Manager, Glen Allen, Virginia
The increasing reliance on energy worldwide presents a strong incentive for the next generation. To manage and sustain the industry’s exponential growth, we must advance our operations. Rising professionals will be essential in monitoring these developments. For example, there’s been more permitting from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in the last five years than we’ve seen in the past two decades. Entities are beginning to explore nuclear fusion, which could provide an essentially limitless source of clean energy. The next generation of engineers have an opportunity to take ownership in these advancements and watch their impact in real-time, whether for nuclear, transmission or distribution delivery, solar, natural gas, BESS, or any other technologies that support our power grid.
Aaron Edmonson, Senior Associate, National Flood Resilience Program Manager, New York, New York
Technology has advanced significantly in the 25 years I’ve worked in the field. There are new tools and techniques waiting to be leveraged from Building Information Modeling (BIM) and digital twins to artificial intelligence (AI). The next generation is in a unique position, coming into an industry that is only beginning to experiment with these tools and will need to be innovative. They will witness first-hand the transformation that new modeling techniques and building practices have on our industry and how we deliver resilience for our clients.
Andy Kioko, Associate Vice President, Senior Project Manager, Fairfax, Virginia
As alternative delivery methods like progressive design-build and integrated project delivery grow across the industry, there is tremendous opportunity for young engineers to get involved. APD thrives because of its collaborative approach, meaning all ages, disciplines, and fields supporting how a project evolves. It’s that variety of experience and background that truly drives innovation in our projects. Coming into an industry shifting toward more designer-contractor coordination, multi-disciplinary design reviews, and performance-based scoping is exciting and extremely valuable for the next generation.
Leslie Mantiply, Associate Vice President, Deputy Business Unit Manager, Danville, Virginia
The vast majority of U.S. infrastructure is nearing the end of its service life, and renewal is critical. According to the 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, American Society of Civil Engineers scored the county’s infrastructure an overall grade of C, meaning “mediocre, requires attention.” For the water/wastewater industry, the Environmental Protection Agency predicts systems will require at least $744 billion in additional investment over the next 20 years. The next generation will be instrumental in modernizing this infrastructure through the application of emerging technologies. We’re already seeing how tools such as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), GIS heatmaps, remote sensing, and AI can optimize and improve our systems. How we continue to embrace and leverage new technology will be driven by the engineers entering the industry today.
What Can Young Engineers do to Prepare for These Changes?
Andrew Dahlman, Senior Associate, Senior Project Manager, Glen Allen, Virginia
This is a complex industry, which can be overwhelming. Learn as much as you can about the energy generation and delivery process and refine it as you go. Understand how energy is produced, incorporated into the grid, and distributed, and how this can differ for commercial, industrial, and residential markets. Find opportunities to work on a variety of projects, such as transmission, distribution, solar, wind, hydropower, coal, or nuclear. Energy projects often require services like environmental due diligence, site/civil design, or locality permitting—understanding the processes and barriers to these can be vital to a project’s success and are meaningful opportunities to contribute to the sector. While it may feel intimidating at the start, each item is a piece of the larger puzzle that continues to push the ball forward.
Aaron Edmonson, Senior Associate, National Flood Resilience Program Manager, New York, New York
Be well-rounded and well-read. Opportunities are often tied to funding. It’s important as engineers to recognize how politics and market intelligence may be impacting your pursuits. To a similar extent, immersing yourself in the communities you’re serving, learning their wants, and aligning them with sound engineering solutions will help bring a resilient community to life. My last piece of advice for young engineers is to understand the life-saving impact these solutions can have on our communities and take action to change them for the better, benefiting generations to come.
Andy Kioko, Associate Vice President, Senior Project Manager, Fairfax, Virginia
Soft skills are as important as technical expertise. Collaboration and cultural alignment push project teams forward, so building the confidence to contribute, ask questions, and be open to new perspectives is essential. APD teams are often large and spread across offices, disciplines, and industries. It’s important to expand your awareness beyond your own expertise and take that extra step to learn from others on your team. When beginning a project, you’ll need to understand why the project is being undertaken, not just what the client is looking for. Teams succeed when engineers can bridge the gap between design and construction, which starts with embracing collaboration.
Leslie Mantiply, Associate Vice President, Deputy Business Unit Manager, Danville, Virginia
Stay curious. The water/wastewater industry is so broad, and you will eventually find your niche. Early in your career, expose yourself to a wide range of projects, such as source water intake and permitting, water/wastewater treatment, water distribution, sewer collection and rehabilitation, water reuse, and natural resource management. Understanding the complexities of different types of systems will make you a more knowledgeable and resourceful engineer. There is so much opportunity for young engineers to get involved in the water market. Focusing on water/wastewater early in my engineering career has created purpose for why I come to work every day. By providing safe and clean water, we make a difference in the daily lives of our communities.