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Events
Overview of the Federal Highway Administration
Wednesday, September 15, 11:30-1:00 PM
The Federal Highway Administration will provide an overview of their Office of Federal Lands, the core programs under this office and the interagency support program conducted under this program. The Office of Federal Lands Highway executes a $2B annual highway design and construction program for the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Defense and provides interagency support to both Federal Agencies and State Departments of Transportation. An overview of some upcoming ‘Great American Outdoors” projects will discussed.
Speaker:
Mr. Timothy Hess is the Associate Administrator for Federal Lands in the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). As an Associate Administrator, he provides senior executive level leadership for over 700 employees who design and oversee the construction of an annual program of over $2B in highway projects for federal agencies and state partners. In addition, the FHWA Office of Federal Lands administers a $500M federal-aid Tribal Transportation program for federally recognized tribal nations.
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Tyndall AFB Recovery Planning
Wednesday, August 4, 11:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm at the time of landfall, caused large-scale damage to the Florida Panhandle region and impacted over 95% of the structures on Tyndall AFB. AECOM, under contract with the USACE Mobile District, developed an installation master plan to rebuild the AFB devastated by the natural disaster. Initial components of the plan included a hurricane recovery plan to repair, reshape and rebuild Tyndall AFB to resume near-term missions and maximize mid- and long-term capabilities. AECOM’s recovery plan presented facility sizes and site planning to optimize resiliency, sustainability and adaptability; improve mission and organizational efficiencies; meet current and proposed mission requirements well into the 21st Century while planning for future growth. The recovery plan updated the overarching 2015 Tyndall AFB Installation Development Plan and was developed in compliance with AFI 32-1017 Comprehensive Planning and DoD UFC 2-100-01, Installation Master Planning.
AECOM deployed a team of multidisciplinary staff to spearhead the planning effort, including master planners, economists, resiliency experts, engineers, security experts and aviation/airfield planners to conduct building assessments, gather topographic/geological data, perform traffic studies, develop construction drawings for road improvements and propose environmental impact assessments. We gathered lessons learned from the storm event for use in developing programming, planning, and visualization strategies to mitigate impacts from future hurricanes.
Additionally, In developing the installation master plan AECOM developed a long-range development strategy by analyzing the airfield to identify damaged facilities in the Flightline District that needed replacement or consolidation; planned facilities for new flying missions, including F-35 and MQ-9; optimized the flightline to increase airfield capacity and capabilities; replaced and consolidated community services, and established a town center in the Support District; relocated the Civil Engineering Squadron and Logistics Readiness Squadron to the Support District and relocated damaged 9700 Area research and development facilities to the Silver Flag District; and improved vehicle and pedestrian circulation systems and physical security infrastructure (entry gates, fencing) in all study areas.
Speaker:
Layel Pallesen is an Associate Principal with AECOM, registered landscape architect, certified planner, and LEED Green Associate with over 16 years of experience in military master planning. Her areas of expertise include project management; developing comprehensive master plans and installation real property master plans; preforming infrastructure assessments; preparing and developing programming documents and DD Form 1391s; facilitating planning and design charrettes with public engagement; and performing project economic and market analyses. Ms. Pallesen is a strong communicator with effective interpersonal/interagency skills that builds rapport with individuals in work processes and provides a sense of commitment and contribution to the overall success of team objectives. She has extensive experience with integrating and implementing UFC 2-100-01, Installation Master Planning guidance with Vision Plans, Installation Development Plans, Area Development Plans, and Installation Planning Standards for military service branches and Federal clients. Additionally, she specializes in performing and producing vulnerability assessments, climate change and sustainability studies, hazard mitigation through facility design, resilience planning, and community and local planning. She has won numerous awards for her planning projects with the Federal Planning Division of the American Planning Association and has presented several projects at planning conferences.
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A Four-year Forecast of Middle East Priorities
Wednesday, May 19, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
The U.S. Global Leadership Council (USGLC) and the SAME Blue Ridge Post are partnering to provide an outlook and insights on the next four years of America’s policy in the Middle East under the Biden Administration. What are the new Administration’s priorities for the region? How will these priorities shape U.S. policy? And how will these policies affect U.S. military presence in the region?
Speakers:
John K. Glenn serves as Policy Director at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC), where he leads engagement with the USGLC’s National Security Advisory Council, with the Executive Branch including the National Security Council, State Department, and US Agency for International Development, and with the think tank communities.
Lieutenant General Mick Bednarek retired in 2015 after nearly 40 years of military service. He most recently served 26 months as the Senior Defense Official in Iraq and Chief of the Office of Security Cooperation in Baghdad. In this capacity he coordinated Security Cooperation and Security Assistance activities to strengthen the strategic partnership and promote a unified, democratic, stable, self-reliant, and regionally integrated Iraq.
Tom Waters serves as the Director of Programs for the USACE Middle East District. He is responsible for the District’s program execution and overseeing all aspects of the District’s Engineering, Construction, Contracting, and Programs and Project Management Division requirements.