SAME Leader Development Class 2026 – 2027
The SAME Leader Development Program (LDP) is one of the Society’s most impactful initiatives—created to elevate emerging leaders within the architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) community. More than just a professional development experience, the LDP serves as a transformational platform that shapes how rising leaders think, collaborate, and contribute to the future of the profession.
The program highlights the individuals who are redefining what leadership looks like across the engineering enterprise. Bringing together participants from diverse disciplines, sectors, and backgrounds, the LDP highlights a wide range of perspectives—from technical specialists to strategic thinkers, from public‑sector innovators to private‑sector changemakers. These leaders are united by their commitment to strengthening national infrastructure, enhancing mission readiness, and advancing SAME’s vision for the future.
The current class includes twenty selected members who begin their leadership journey in May at the Joint Engineer Training Conference & Expo (JETC) in Portland, OR. Fully funded by the SAME Foundation, the LDP continues to serve as a vital platform for cultivating the next generation of leaders within the A/E/C industry.
Meet the 2026 – 2027 LDP Class
The 2026–2027 Leadership Development Program (LDP) Class represents a diverse group of emerging leaders committed to growth, collaboration, and impact. Through shared experiences, mentorship, and service, they are building the skills needed to lead with purpose in an evolving mission environment.
Explore each participant’s personal reflection on the leader they aspire to become.
| Leadership Statement |
|---|
A servant leader guided by strategic vision, enabling my team to reach their full potential, deliver exceptional results, and achieve sustainable long-term success. |
One who can successfully align people and resources toward shared organizational goals. |
One who aligns people around a clear vision and turns momentum into measurable results. |
Someone who leads with both confidence and humility, someone people trust, feel comfortable learning from, and know will follow through. I want to create the kind of environment where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow while working toward something meaningful. |
One who does not waver in the face of dissidence and one who better accepts help from others. |
One who remains composed under pressure, is trusted by colleagues, and is deeply committed to actively championing the growth and success of the people around me. |
A servant leader who prioritizes people, invests in the growth of individuals, and creates a fun, productive environment. |
Someone who connects vision to execution in a way that equip others to contribute meaningfully without adding unnecessary burden. |
Someone with the emotional intelligence to inspire and motivate others, the open-mindedness to constantly be learning, and the strategic thinking to develop creative solutions to complex issues. |
Collaborative and purpose driven. |
An empowering leader that focuses on giving team members the autonomy and resources to take ownership of their work. This builds confidence and encourages a sense of accountability, which is vital for successful project management. |
One that unifies and strengthens their community. |
The leader I intend to become is a servant leader. As I grow in my career, I’ve become hyper aware that my team sizes continue to grow, and with that increasing team size my emphasis on servant leadership grows as well. I’m a big believer that if I can do everything in my power to serve the team, then they will take care of me as the leader of the team. |
Someone who builds through others and develops strong, confident teams that can be counted on. |
My goal is to be a leader who “listens first” to understand the unique aspirations of both clients and team members, translating those needs into actionable, transparent strategies. I strive to lead by example, fostering a culture where accountability and technical excellence are the baseline, and where our team is empowered to exceed expectations routinely. |
The leader I intend to become is a confident, capable leader who inspires trust and brings out the best in others. |
The leader I intend to become is a confident, trusted leader who develops people and leads teams toward clear goals. |
The leader I intend to become is one who empowers and encourages others to bring their best selves to all they do. |
A steady, empathetic, and purpose‑driven leader who helps people do their best work while staying grounded in their well‑being. I want to lead in a way that inspires confidence, encourages authenticity, and creates an environment where others feel valued, included, and motivated to grow. |
The leader I intend to become is servant leader dedicated to building bridges that empower my team and unite diverse partners in pursuit of our collective mission. |
Antonio Alaimo, AFIMSC
Morgan Bruno, P.E., Ahtna
Shierly Caceres, LEED AP
Rudy Caron, Saam Architecture
Joseph Chung, RA
Matt Coan, PG
1st Lt. Matthew Cristi, USAFR
Melanie Delano, Wiley Wilson
Lt. Kristen Durham-Young, USCG
Kelsey Edwards, PG, Bhate
Master Sgt. Xavier Gemba, USAF
Jason Hu, HDR Engineering
Maj. Chris Jankowski, P.E., PMP, USAF
Zac McIntosh, P.E., Terracon
Nick Overby, P.E., PMP, ZAPATA
Summer Roseborough, RS&H
Lt. Hom Sharma, Ph.D., P.E., USPHS
Kimberly Silvester, P.E., J-U-B Engineers
Dylan Spriggs, Black & Veatch
Lt. j.g. Karly Vial, CEC, USN
Hear From LDP Graduates!
The Leadership Development Program has allowed me to make several connections and relationships with other members and to gain leadership knowledge and skills that I could bring to the teams I work with. It also inspired me to find more opportunities to further get involved.
Brittany Schultze, Black & Veatch, LDP Class of 2022
Meet Past Leader Development Program Classes
Ilene Carreon-Allen, Coffman Engineers, Northern Tier Region
Jacob Ambrose, P.E., HNTB, Missouri River Region
Lt. Cdr. Patrick Debroisse, CMH-A, NOAA, Office of Coast Survey, North Atlantic Region
Harold Eberbach, KMEA, Texas Region
Capt. Billy Edenfield, PMP, USAF, Education with Industry – Universal Orlando Resort, Southeast Region
Maj. Patrick Ernst, USAFR, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Middle Atlantic Region
Craig Franzel, CDM Smith, Europe Region
Camille Gozum, P.E., ENV SP, GHD, Pacific Region
Adam Hanks, P.E., AECOM, Middle Atlantic Region
Brent Kent, Johnson Controls Federal Systems, Tennessee/Kentucky Region
Kristen Lary, Waldrop Construction Inc., Heartland Region
Lt. Col. Richard Mahn, P.E., PMP, USA, 36th Engineer Brigade, Texas Region
Sabrina Mohazzabfar, Burns & McDonnell, P.E., California Region
Curtis Reed, AIA, Bear General Contractors, Gulf Coast Region
Matthew Riggs, AECOM, Rocky Mountain Region
Robert Sinclair, Allan Myers, Hampton Roads Region
Elena Soto, Jacobs, Texas Region
Robert Trotta, PMP, ENV SP, 787th Civil Engineer Squadron, North Atlantic Region
Kayla Jonas, RA, FFE Inc., Ohio Valley Region
Sgt. Maj. Melissa Wright, PMP, USAR, Army Reserve Command Headquarters, Carolinas Region
Learn more about the class of 25 – 26Alyssa Agustin, PMP
Amber Weber, MBA
Bobbi Jo Lang
Lt. Chibuzor, Oziligbo, P.E., PMP, CEC, USN
Chris Artz, P.E., CHMM
Christina Jettie, P.E.
Eva Gonzales, P.E.
Lt. Col. Jack Johannes, P.E., USA (Ret.)
Maj. Jesse Davis, P.E., CCM, USA
Kyle Young
Lt. Cdr. John M. Nurthen
Lynelle Brode, PMP
Megan Windeknecht
Sam Barnett
Samantha Long, PMP
Shirley Albritton, P.E, PMP
Stephen Price, PG, PMP
Tech Sgt. Joshua A. Dane
Zachary Pesicka, P.E., PMP
Learn more about the class of 24 – 25Aaron Burrows
Alexander Bohlin
Alyson White
Christian Ward
Emelia Brooks-Sisco
Joseph Brejda
JR Gregory
Kathleenann Brunstad
Kathryn Thomas
Kaylee Kostka
Kevin Chatary
Larry Estrella
Lawrence Mullaly
Mary Londquist
Matthew Nelson
Pamela Nugent*
Rene Cortez
Thomas Heesom
Travis Cummins
Learn more about the class of 23 – 24Lt. Cdr. Steven Becker, P.E., USCG, Coast Guard Base Miami Beach (South Florida Post)
Chief Master Sgt. Adam Boubede, USAF, 786th Civil Engineer Squadron (Kaiserslautern Post)
Cameron Bowsky, P.E., Matrix Design Group (Pikes Peak Post)
Lt. Cdr. Jaison Eapen, USPHS, USPHS/OS (New Jersey Post)
Josh Graham, P.E., CCM, PMP, HDR (San Antonio Post)
Andy Harlan, Smith Seckman Reid Inc. (Nashville Post)
Jacob Hilton, P.E., PMP, LEED AP, Dewberry (Fort Bragg Post)
Capt. Mack Howell, TP.E., USAR, Ball Maritime Group (Savannah Post)
Capt. Jenee Jagoda, USAF, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron (Kittyhawk Post)
Brittany Kallenberger, Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp. (Greater Kansas City Post)
Merle Keener, GuernseyTingle (Virginia Peninsula Post)
James Kirk, The Weitz Company (Phoenix Post)
Anne MacMillan, Bluestone Environmental Group, Inc. (Boston Post)
Camille Murray, Eurofins Calscience (Orange County Post)
Maj. Victor Nelson, P.E., PMP, USA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Detroit Post)
Catherine Niles, AFG Group, Inc. (Washington DC Post)
Brandi Smith, Wood (Kentuckiana Post)
Jennifer Snape, P.E., Batture (Louisiana Post)
Capt. Andrew Storey, P.E., USA, U.S. Army Student Detachment (Honolulu Post)
Maj. Brec Wilshusen, P.E., USAF (Ret.), 55th Civil Engineer Squadron (Omaha Post)
Capt. Victoria Cachro, USAF, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron (Korea Post)
Josh Cohen, P.E., PMP, Kiewit (Louisiana Post)
Capt. Eric Collett, USA, HQ USACE (Washington DC Post)
Taylor Daigle, P.E., Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (Louisiana Post)
Julie Eiter, P.E., LEED AP, Black & Veatch (Greater Kansas City Post)
Suzanne Grix, Forgen LLC (Sacramento Post)
Frances Hinkley, P.E., Jacobs (Mobile Post)
James Kline, P.E., LC, National Institute of Building Sciences (Mid-Maryland Post)
Lori Kropidlowski, Ahtna Solutions LLC (Anchorage Post)
Pamela Little, P.E., PMP, Pond & Company (Atlanta Post)
Matt Matteson, P.E., PG, Wood (Detroit Post)
Dr. Joshua McClure, P.E., CFM, PMP, Halff Associates Inc. (Fort Worth Post)
Cdr. Kris Neset, P.E., USPHS, Centers for Disease Control (Pikes Peak Post)
Travis Pital, P.E., PacRim Engineering (San Diego Post)
Faith Powell, HDR (Seattle Post)
Samantha Robbins, Stone Environmental Engineering & Science Inc. (Kittyhawk Post)
Capt. Bradford Shields, P.E., USAF, Air Force Installation & Mission Support Center (Kaiserslautern Post)
Capt. Ariel Waiters, USAF, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (New Jersey Post)
Brian Wybrecht, P.E., U.S. Army Europe-Africa (Rhein-Main Post)
Tasmin Brown, Senior Project Manager, Stantec Consulting Services Inc. (California Region: San Francisco Post, Walnut Creek, CA)
Maj Joshua Carroll, Engineering Flight Commander, 8 Civil Engineer Squadron, Kunsan Air Base (International Committee, Republic of Korea)
Agapito Diaz P.E., Project Manager, AECOM (Pacific Region: Guam Post, Hagatna, Guam)
CPT Thomas Fakler, P.E., Civil Engineer, Ulteig (Great Lakes Region: Minneapolis-St Paul Post, Fargo, ND)
Summer Gladden CF APMP, LEED AP BD+C, Proposal and Marketing Manager, Leebcor Services, LLC (Middle Atlantic Region: Central Virginia Post, Williamsburg, VA)
LT Kristi Gordon, P.E., CEC, USN, FEAD Director, PWD Meridian, NAVFAC SE (Lower Mississippi Region: Vicksburg Post, Meridian, MS)
Capt Gregory Hege, Chief, Operations Engineering Element, 628 CES (Carolina Region: Charleston Post, Charleston, SC)
LT Christopher Joseph, P.E., LEED AP, USNR, Project Manager, Stanley Consultants, Inc. (Texoma Region: San Antonio Post, Round Rock, TX)
LT Aaron Kotlarz, P.E., CEC, USN, Public Works Officer, Commander, Fleet Activities Okinawa (International Committee, Japan)
Jared Matthews, P.E., Mechanical Engineer, Merrick & Company (South Atlantic Region: Space Coast Post, Merritt Island, FL)
SMSgt Philip McAlpin, Jr., Operations Flight Superintendent, 5th Civil Engineer Squadron (Missouri River Region: Minot Post, Minot, ND)
Ree Miskimon (North Atlantic Region: Baltimore Post, Baltimore, MD)
Capt Arpan Patel, P.E, USAF, Team Chief – Civil Engineer, Air Force Civil Engineer Center (South Central Region: Panama City Post, Burke, VA)
Vinnie Plocido, Senior Planner, WSP (Ohio Valley Region: Pittsburgh Post, Pittsburgh, PA)
Bruce Preston, Director of Operations, TSK Architects (Southwest Region: Phoenix Post, Mesa, AZ)
LT Kevin Remley, P.E., Senior Environmental Engineer, Indian Health Service (Northwest Region: Gem State Post, Fort Hall, ID)
Colleen Rust, PG, PMP, Project Manager, Sundance Consulting Inc. (Rocky Mountain Region: Albuquerque Post, Albuquerque, NM)
Scott Turygan, P.E., PMP; Civil Engineer; US Army Europe, G34 Protection (European Region: Rhein-Main Post, Mainz, Germany)
Ilana Almquist, Marketing Coordinator, Coffman Engineers, Inc. (Pacific Region)
Holly Bigelow, Program Manager, Wood (European Region)
MAJ Craig Bryant, P.E., Operations Officer, Fort Hood, TX (Texoma Region)
Mark DeSouza, Civil Site Design Project Manager, Thomas & Hutton (Carolinas Region)
Angela Gomez, Business Manager, KOMAN Construction LLC (Southwest Region)
Patricia Graham, Project Geologist, EnSafe Inc. (New England Region)
LT Mike Guaigua, Civil Engineer Corps, U.S. Navy (International Committee)
Erin Krug, P.E., Structural Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Great Lakes Region)
Sean Lebel, P.E., Operations Manager, AECOM (Mid-Atlantic Region)
LCDR Sam Lee, Civil Engineer, U.S. Navy (Northwest Region)
Melissa Lewis, Supervisor Project Management, Scott Air Force Base (Missouri Region)
Capt Brendan Maestas, Instructor, Wright-Patterson AFB (Ohio Region)
Ben Nichols, Project Executive, Harkins Builders, Inc. (North Atlantic Region)
Zakary Payne, Associate, Matrix Design Group, Inc. (Rocky Mountain Region)
Claudia Penny, Assistant Project Manager, HCR Construction, Inc. (South Atlantic Region)
Jorge Rodriguez, Senior Engineer, M.S. Hatch Consulting, LLC (California Region)
Stephen Shattuck, Civil Engineer, formerly with LandMark Engineering (South Central Region)
Interested in LDP?
Applications for the 2027-2028 class will open fall 2027.
SAME’s Leader Development Program was a rewarding and unique experience. I was able to leverage the experience and knowledge from other aspiring leaders and mentors from similar A/E/C backgrounds and grow personally as well as apply lessons back to my primary profession. This network still exists and helps me even today, years after I graduated the program.
Capt. Arpan Patel, USAF, LDP Class of 2021