Benjamin Matthews, P.E., F.SAME, was sworn in as the 107th National President of SAME on May 20 at the 2026 Joint Engineer Training Conference (JETC) in Portland, Ore. Matthews takes over the position of SAME President from Michael Huffstetler, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, F.SAME, 106th National President of SAME.
“We must leverage the collective expertise from our members, government agencies, academia, and other key stakeholders to solve key matters affecting national security. This only happens by intentional commitment to working the solutions as volunteers.”
Ben Matthews, P.E., F.SAME, 107th SAME National president
In this role, Matthews will lead the SAME National Leadership Assembly and Board of Direction in overseeing the governance and strategic efforts of the Society, its 22,000 members including 1,500 member companies, and over 100 Posts and Field Chapters around the world. His vision for the coming year is evident in his stated theme, that “Connections are the Catalyst”—the opportunities to develop relationships and build the trust so essential to enable SAME to achieve its enduring mission of leading collaboration and enabling readiness. This pursuit will be achieved by aligning member interests and actions with the three interdependent goals of the 2030 SAME Strategic Plan, to drive partnerships, deliver solutions, and develop people.
During his introductory remarks at JETC, Matthews detailed the establishment of SAME in 1920, in the aftermath of World War I when Maj. Gen. William Black, USA (Ret.), the 28th Chief of Engineers, sought to create an “association of engineers” to ensure the nation’s engineering community, military and civilian, would be prepared for any future conflict. This would be achieved by creating an organization driven by collaboration and fostered by connections. More than a century later, Matthews described, this enduring mission remains. He highlighted the comments in November 2025 by Lt. Gen. Butch Graham, USA, 55th Chief of Engineers, who explained that the urgent need to advance project delivery success would come from a commitment by working “smarter, faster, together.”
Embracing working together may be innate to the Society’s legacy, but it still takes a commitment. “As much as we hope that technology will help us,” Mathews said, “it still takes volunteers who roll up their sleeves and make the personal investment to solve our most complex challenges. That Industry-Government Engagement happens nationally, but the majority of our connections start locally.”
To be smarter and faster, he added, “We must leverage the collective expertise from our members, government agencies, academia, and other key stakeholders to solve key matters affecting national security. This only happens by intentional commitment to working the solutions as volunteers.”
Matthews in closing his comments, called on the audience to decide which of SAME’s strategic goals they would be accountable to, that their deliberate connection to making a difference will be the catalyst to success over the next year.
Following his introductory remarks as SAME President, Matthews then facilitated another leadership transition, welcoming Maj. Gen. Dave Hill, PMP, USA (Ret.), who will assume the role of Executive Director of SAME and the SAME Foundation on June 2, succeeding Maj. Gen. Mike Wehr, P.E., USA (Ret.). “Continuity is so important to successful leadership transitions as we all know,” Matthews said. “SAME is fortunate to have been able to plan an effective hand-off for the Executive Director position over the last few weeks and here at JETC.”
Previously President-Elect, Matthews has held a series of successfully more senior leadership roles within SAME over the last decade: National Vice President (2023-2025); member, Investment Committee (2023-2025); Texas Regional Vice President (2021-2023); Vice Chair, Key Leader Development Commission (2020-2021); and Elected Director (2016-2019). He also served as Dallas Post President (2014) and Chair of the College Outreach COI (2007-2011). Formerly a civil engineer officer with the U.S. Air Force, Matthews over the last 20 years has supported projects and led teams across the federal/defense sector with industry, including now as a vice president with AtkinsRéalis. He was invested into the Academy of Fellows in 2016.
Matthews will be supported on the SAME Executive Committee by Mike Huffstetler, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, F.SAME, Past President; President-Elect Brig. Gen. Patrice Melançon, P.E., F.SAME, USAF (Ret.); Vice Presidents Carrie Ann Williams, CPSM, F.SAME, Col. R. Scott Grainger, P.E., PMP, F.SAME, USAF (Ret.), and Rear Adm. Dean VanderLey, P.E., F.SAME, USN (Ret.), and Treasurer Jordan Beard. In his role as President, Matthews also oversees the National Leadership Assembly and Board of Direction, the Society’s governance bodies.
SAME is proud to welcome Ben as the 107th SAME National President, and we look forward to his leadership and experience as industry and government work together to navigate challenges and opportunities across the A/E/C sector by bringing people together: Connections are the Catalyst.
Founded in 1920, SAME, through its 22,000 members around the world, leads collaboration in support of our national security priorities. Since its founding, a storied list of leaders have served as Society President.
With a National Office in Alexandria, Va., and over 100 Posts and Field Chapters around the world, the Society unites individuals and organizations from across the military, public, private, and academic sectors representing the architecture, engineering, construction, environmental and facility management, cyber security, and acquisition and contracting disciplines.
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