Registration is open! Celebrate STEM awardees on Thursday, August 7, with SAME Blue Ridge Post! Enjoy a taco bar lunch and a 1 PDH dive-tech program on underwater missions and training. Featuring Col Christopher Klein, USACE Middle East District, and Dr. Paula Loomis, Urban Collaborative.
A key focus of the Blue Ridge Post is supporting the development of future STEM students as they prepare to meet the challenges of the modern world and support the defense and development of our Nation.
On Thursday, August 7 the BRP luncheon meeting will recognize each of our 2025 Scholarship recipients. In addition, the Blue Ridge Post sponsored six (6) students to attend SAME STEM Engineering & Construction Summer Camps around the United States this year. Several of our students will be present to provide a summary of their time and experiences at their camp.
Our STEM scholarship program is supported by our members and sponsors throughout the year, including our annual Scholarship Golf Tournament & BBQ Fundraiser held in the fall. Since 2015, the Blue Ridge Post has awarded over $175,000 to high school and college students who are interested in STEM careers for engineering, architecture and environmental science.
Our MC for the program is Ben Wham, PE, the SAME BRP Director of STEM Education and SAME Engineering & Construction Camps and BRP Post Immediate Past President.
FEATURED KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Colonel Christopher D. Klein is Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Middle East District, where he leads engineering and construction missions across the Middle East and Central Asia. A West Point graduate, he holds master’s degrees in Geological Engineering and National Security Strategy and is a certified Project Management Professional. He has commanded multiple USACE districts and held leadership roles around the world, including Iraq and the Pentagon. With a deep commitment to developing future talent, Colonel Klein will deliver the keynote address highlighting the critical role of STEM education in sustaining innovation and leadership across our industry.
TECHNICAL PROGRAM
Maritime Expeditionary Operation Center (1 PDH)
What does it take to engineer the impossible—hundreds of feet underwater?
From recovering aircraft wreckage in dark, shifting waters to building structures beneath ships and safely retrieving unexploded ordnance, this session offers a behind-the-scenes look at the design, training, and engineering that make expeditionary maritime operations possible. Learn how underwater construction and mission support are shaping facility needs, and get a first look at a new training center that will become one of the deepest dive pools in the U.S.
Whether you’re a student curious about STEM careers or a professional interested in cutting-edge defense and infrastructure projects, this 1 PDH session will leave you inspired.
ABOUT OUR PRESENTER
Dr. Paula Loomis, FAIA, F.SAME, AICP, SAP, LEED AP, is the Director of Research at Urban Collaborative, a retired Air Force Colonel, and national expert in designing facilities for the military and public sector as an architect and planner. She has worked with the Air Force, Coast Guard, Army, and Navy on projects around the world. A champion of sustainability and STEM education, Dr. Loomis inspires future architects, engineers and planners through her work and teaching.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-loomis-6243125
Urban Collaborative: https://urbancollaborative.com/
Dr. Paula Loomis, FAIA, FSAME, AICP, LEED AP, SAP, is a Senior Architect, Planner, and Program/Project Manager at The Urban Collaborative with over 40 years of experience supporting military and federal agencies. Her career includes leadership roles with the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, General Services Administration, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, delivering master plans, facility designs, and infrastructure programs at more than 50 installations worldwide.
A retired Air Force Colonel, Dr. Loomis served six years on active duty and 24 years as a reservist, including positions as Senior Reservist to the Air Force Civil Engineer Center and Base Architect at Langley Air Force Base. In the civilian sector, she previously led the U.S. Coast Guard’s Shore Infrastructure Logistics Center, overseeing planning, design, and operations for 28,000 facilities at 2,000 sites nationwide.
Dr. Loomis holds a PhD in Public Administration and Urban Theory and multiple master’s degrees in architecture, construction management, and business. She is a licensed architect, certified planner, LEED AP, and educator, and has contributed to key federal planning and design standards, including Unified Facilities Criteria. Her work has earned over 50 design awards, including the SAME Urbahn Medal for Architectural Excellence. She remains an active leader in SAME and AIA, advancing the military engineering and federal A/E/C communities.