National Leadership Nominations

2026 President’s Guidance – National Leadership Nominations

September 15, 2026

Dear SAME Members,

As we approach the end of 2026, it is time to take the next steps in shaping our Society’s future.  Beginning October 1, we will kick off our annual process to infuse our national volunteer governance with the next team of trusted leaders who will serve at the highest levels of our organization, be the catalysts to advance our mission, vision, and 2030 strategic plan, and inspire the next generation of members.

During my opening comments as SAME President this past May at JETC, I made a clear and critical ask to the membership: which element of our strategic plan will you commit to over the next year, because that deliberate connection you make is the catalyst to driving meaningful and measurable positive outcomes—and our nation depends on it.

Over the last few months, that sense of urgency has only grown, with broad and significant shifts in federal contracting and project delivery, strains on workforces and talent pipelines, and growing geopolitical tensions and conflicts around the world. I expect we will continue to see historic changes affecting government and industry, including new funding authorities, shifts in priorities, and infrastructure readiness challenges. Now more than ever, SAME’s essential role in building “connections” across key stakeholders and sustaining long-term relationships locally and nationally remains a top focus.

Our membership of architects, engineers, constructors, technologists, scientists, innovators, rising stars and seasoned leaders: you are the present and future problem-solvers, the mentors and technical experts, the difference-makers and selfless leaders we are counting on. Among you, our 20,000 members, are many who are ready to raise your hand and take on the stewardship of our “association of engineers.” As I remarked at JETC, SAME’s enduring mission has not changed across our history: We lead collaboration in support of national security priorities. But what has changed is the programs we support, the projects we contribute to, and the challenges the services face that we can help solve.

Each of us who have served as Elected Directors and National Officers within SAME began by making a connection to an aspect of the Society we were passionate about, and using that as a catalyst to drive impact and change as volunteer national leaders. We joined a team of similarly passionate leaders from all corners of the A/E/C profession and military engineering community, a diverse team of leaders that only SAME can create. Together, we became part of a leadership body that for more than 106 years now has been “dedicated to national security,” and to serve “no selfish ends.” Are you ready to be part of this legacy?

To elect national leaders, we follow the National Leadership Nominating Procedures Guide. This document provides every member an understanding of the nominations process and the expectations of each leadership role in full transparency. Nominations will open October 1, 2026. The deadline to submit nominations is December 1, 2026.  There also is a wealth of information on the National Leadership Nominations webpage about what is expected of National Officers and Elected Directors, as well as what type of characteristics, experiences, and qualities that best succeed in these positions.

Every SAME member has a role in this process. Whether you are interested in self-nominating or nominating a colleague, encouraging a rising Society leader to step up, or you are already actively mentoring someone.

• Elected Director: this role represents the Society “at large” at the national level and provides experience with national governance in SAME. There is no requirement to be a Fellow, but a variety of contributions and experiences at the Post level in support of our Strategic Plan are expected of each candidate.
• National Officer: the minimum qualification is that every candidate must be a Fellow. Candidates for President-Elect and Vice President do not have to be current members of the Board of Direction or sitting on the current Executive Committee.

We utilize two separate nomination committees: one for National Officer candidates and one for Elected Director candidates. For all National Officers and Elected Directors, we are looking for “whole person” candidates who bring a variety of professional experience, diversity of thought, and leadership skills. The nominees ultimately selected by the committees will advance to the SAME national election in spring 2027.

The following are some of the key leadership characteristics we are looking for in our next leaders:

• Passionate Advocate for SAME
• Visionary & Growth-Oriented
• Courageous Change Catalyst
• Action and Outcome Driven
• Motivational & Inspirational
• Mentor Who Develops People

SAME will host a webinar on October 2, 2026 to provide guidance and answer questions for anyone interested in submitting a nomination. Both Nominating Committees (National Officer and Elected Director) will receive guidance as part of their upcoming review process of all candidates, consistent with what I am sharing here with the membership.

– Benjamin Matthews, P.E., F.SAME | 107th SAME National President (2026-2027)

Download Letter (PDF)