Maj. Gen. Michael Wehr, P.E., USA (Ret.) Named 18th Executive Director of SAME

The Society of American Military Engineers is pleased to announce that Maj. Gen. Michael Wehr, P.E., USA (Ret.), has been named its new Executive Director. In this role, he is the chief salaried administrator of the Society—responsible for the effective operation and management of the organization to the Board of Direction, its Executive Committee, and the National President. He also will serve as Executive Director of the SAME Foundation, which is separately incorporated and with its own Board of Directors but fully integrated for financial management and SAME program support.

Wehr will officially start Aug. 1, 2023, succeeding Brig. Gen. Joseph Schroedel, P.E., F.SAME, USA (Ret.), who announced earlier this year his intention to transition out of the role he has held for nine years.

A registered professional engineer who served 35 years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 2021,  Wehr most recently was Vice President, Sector Manager for Defense with Atkins, a design, engineering and project management firm that has been a corporate member of SAME since 1980.

“We are beyond excited to welcome Mike as the Executive Director of the Society and the SAME Foundation,” said Col. Charlie Perham, F.SAME, USAF (Ret.), SAME National President. “With the full support of his wife Deborah and his family, he is the perfect leader to build on the foundation laid by Joe Schroedel. The search committee and selection team should be proud. Mike has been a dedicated SAME member for many years and brings the right leadership, temperament, vision, and relationships to advance our strategic plan. I look forward to working together!”

Wehr comes to SAME with more than three decades of experience as a proven leader in the military and private sector. He has held a diversity of senior positions including as Director of Strategy, Capabilities, Policy, Programs & Logistics with U.S. Transportation Command. Before that, he served as Deputy Chief of Engineers and Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Other assignments include Commanding General, USACE Mississippi Valley Division and President of the Mississippi River Commission; Director of the Joint Engineering Directorate of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan; Commander, USACE Transatlantic Division (Forward-Afghanistan); and Commanding General, USACE South Pacific Division.

Within SAME as a volunteer, Wehr most recently chaired the Construction Task Force that was stood up in fall 2022 by then-SAME President Cindy Lincicome, F.SAME, successfully navigating its development over a nine-month period until it was elevated to the Construction Community of Interest in May 2023. During his career both in uniform and with industry, Wehr also was a frequent speaker and facilitator at SAME events, and supporter of many national programs including the Engineering & Construction Camps and Leader Development Program. He received the SAME President’s Medal at the 2023 JETC in San Antonio.

In addition to leading the day-to-day business, supporting governance responsibilities, and collaborating on policies and programs to carry out the Society’s vision and mission, Wehr will oversee activities of the National Office staff (currently at 25 full-time employees); manage an annual budget of approximately $10 million along with a substantial investment portfolio; and develop and cultivate relationships with key internal and external stakeholders such as the Presidents of SAME’s 100 Posts, the engineering chiefs of the uniformed services, federal government leaders, and strategic partners throughout the A/E/C community.

“This opportunity to serve as the 18th SAME Executive Director is made possible by YOU,” Wehr said, “the more than 26,000 members and 1,500 member companies of the Society who inspire the contribution of time, talent and treasure to “build leaders, lead collaboration, and find solutions to national security infrastructure challenges”—every day! “As Charlie Perham, our National President, reminds us during Member Appreciation Week, ‘finding the value and being the value’ has an impact. On a personal and professional level, I would like thank Joe Schroedel for his servant leadership, the XD Succession Team led by Cindy Lincicome, and the numerous coaches, mentors, and go-givers who push us out of our comfort zone routinely. My family and I are incredibly grateful for this new opportunity, and I am excited to get started.”

Wehr, who earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Santa Clara, holds a master’s in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and is a graduate of the Army Command & General Staff College. He becomes SAME’s 18th Executive Director since the organization was founded in 1920, joining a distinguished list of leaders, most recently Brig. Gen. Schroedel, Dr. Robert Wolff, P.E., F.SAME, Maj. Gen. Pat Stevens IV, F.SAME, USA (Ret.), Vice Adm. Bruce Beran, P.E., F.SAME, USCG (Ret.), Brig. Gen. Walter Bachus, P.E., F.SAME, USA (Ret.), and Brig. Gen. W.C. Hall, USA (Ret.).

SAME Executive Directors – Since 1920

• 1920-1921: Maj. D.L. Weart, USA
• 1921-1921: Maj. H.J. Richards, USA
• 1921-1922: Maj. R.W. Crawford, USA
• 1922-1929: Maj. Lenox Lohr, USA
• 1929-1931: Lt. Col. J.N. Hodges, USA
• 1931-1931: Maj. J.H. Wheat, USA
• 1931-1939: Col. W.P. Wooten, USA (Ret.)
• 1939-1940: Col. W.A. Mitchell, USA (Ret.)
• 1940-1940: Maj. William Bowie, USA (Ret.)
• 1940-1947: Col. J. Franklin Bell, USA (Ret.)
• 1947-1965: Col. Fabian Kohloss, USA (Ret.)
• 1965-1978: Brig. Gen. William Hall, USA (Ret.)
• 1978-1993: Brig. Gen. Walter Bachus, USA (Ret.)
• 1993-1999: Vice Adm. Bruce Beran, USCG (Ret.)
• 1999-2002: Maj. Gen. Pat Stevens IV, USA (Ret.)
• 2002-2014: Dr. Robert Wolff
• 2014-2023: Brig. Gen. Joseph Schroedel, USA (Ret.)
• 2023-Present: Maj. Gen. Michael Wehr, USA (Ret.)