2025-2026 Leader Development Class Announced

Congratulations to the 20 newly selected members of the 2025-2026 Leader Development Program (LDP), which will begin their year-long professional development training this May at the 2025 Joint Engineer Training Conference & Expo in Louisville, Ky. The class is the seventh cohort since the program was established in 2019.

Developed with support from the SAME Foundation, LDP identifies and cultivates talent from within SAME’s membership to address the nation’s grand challenges. The program supports the development of the next generation of world-class military, government, and industry leaders for the Society and our nation through a curriculum of hands-on training, study, and active engagement in new opportunities. Participants will explore individual strengths, team dynamics, and discover their potential personally and professionally.

Visit the LDP page for more information about this prestigious program, its curriculum, and the impact made by previous class participants.

The full 2025-2026 LDP Class includes:

SAME Leader to Watch: Ilene Allen
Ilene Allen, Coffman Engineers, 
Northern Tier Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Jacob Ambrose
Jacob Ambrose, P.E., CPESC, HNTB, Missouri River Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Lt. Cdr. Patrick Debroisse
Lt. Cdr. Patrick Debroisse, CMH-A, NOAA, Office of Coast Survey, North Atlantic Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Harold Eberbach
Harold Eberbach, KMEA, Texas Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Capt. Billy Edenfield
Capt. Billy Edenfield, PMP, USAF, Education With Industry – Universal Orlando Resort, Southeast Region 
SAME Leader to Watch: Maj. Patrick Ernst
Maj. Patrick Ernst, USAFR, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Middle Atlantic Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Craig Franzel
Craig Franzel, CDM Smith, Europe Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Camille Gozum
Camille Gozum, P.E., ENV SP, GHD, Pacific Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Adam Hanks
Adam Hanks, P.E., AECOM, Middle Atlantic Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Brent Kent
Brent Kent, Johnson Controls Federal Systems, Tennessee/Kentucky Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Kristen Lary
Kristen Lary, Waldrop Construction Inc., Heartland Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Lt. Col. Richard Mahn
Lt. Col. Richard Mahn, P.E., PMP, USA, 36th Engineer Brigade, Texas Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Sabrina Mohazzabfar
Sabrina Mohazzabfar, Burns & McDonnell, P.E., California Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Curtis Reed
Curtis Reed, AIA, Bear General Contractors, Gulf Coast Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Matthew Riggs
Matthew Riggs, AECOM, Rocky Mountain Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Robert Sinclair
Robert Sinclair, Allan Myers, Hampton Roads Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Elena Soto
Elena Soto, Jacobs, Texas Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Robert Trotta
Robert Trotta, PMP, ENV SP, 787th Civil Engineer Squadron, North Atlantic Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Kayla Jonas
Kayla Jonas, RA, FFE Inc., Ohio Valley Region
SAME Leader to Watch: Sgt. Maj. Melissa Wright
Sgt. Maj. Melissa Wright, PMP, USAR, Army Reserve Command Headquarters, Carolinas Region

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