Dear SAME NoVA Post Members,

As we dig out from another snowstorm, let’s remember that spring is just a month away! While winter is perfect for cozying up at home or the office, our Post remains active with events. We recently enjoyed a fantastic lunch with Stephanie Felton from the Department of State, and we’re eagerly anticipating our Happy Hour Bowling event next week. (There’s still time to sign up!)

I am thrilled to have been part of the selection committee for our NoVA Post Awards this year. Our awardees and member firms have truly stepped up, whether by taking on new roles or excelling in their current positions, they are ensuring we continue to achieve great things. And thank you to Summer Gladden, our Regional Vice President, who came to present the RVP Coins and Medals! I appreciate her recognition of the work we have been doing at our Post. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to everyone and a big Thank You for all your hard work and support to our Post! Check out our Winners below!

Mark your calendars for our annual lunch at George Mason University on March 6th with our Student Chapter. This event is a great chance to see the innovative projects and competitions that the GMU engineering students are working on. These students are eager for internships and job opportunities, so if your firm is hiring, be sure to engage with them. More details are provided below.

For our Members, our survey is still open! If you haven’t completed it yet, please do. We recently held a drawing for a $100 VISA Gift Card for respondents who participated by February 10th. We’re holding another drawing for those who respond between February 11th and the Bowling Event on February 19th. We’ve received valuable feedback and look forward to more input from our Post Members.

We’re over halfway through our 2024-2025 Board year. The survey shows that several members are interested in getting more involved with the Post, which is fantastic! Whether by joining the Board or supporting one of our committees, your involvement is crucial. We’ll be reaching out to those who expressed interest to get them involved.

Stay tuned to these newsletters for updates on our activities. You may notice that we have changed the date for our Golf Tournament. It is now set for May 22nd. We have more events to come in the next couple months and before you know it, fall will be here, and we’ll be at our Clay Shooting and Fall Festival events!

Thank you all for your continued support. Please reach out if you have any comments or suggestions!

Julie

Julie Smiley 😊

SAME Northern Virginia | Post President

exp Federal Inc. | Proposal Manager

julie.smiley@expfederal.com

On Wednesday January 22^nd, our Post, in collaboration with the SAME DC Post, had the opportunity to tour the DC Water Blue Plains Facility.

Shawna Martinelli Gill, P.E., Director of Operations and Process Engineering, and Nick Passarelli, VP of Wastewater Operation provided us a very informative and technical presentation of the DC Water Plant operation, it was a great primer before we took a bus to physically tour the plant.  We gained valuable insights into the facility's operations and the wastewater treatment process. It was an educational and enjoyable experience for all involved!

February Lunch

On Thursday Feb. 6^th, our Post had Stephanie Felton, PE, Director, Project Development and Coordination from the Bureau of Overseas Building Operations. It was a sold-out crowd wanting to hear from her. In fact, it was so popular that we were getting requests for standing room only, luckily the Army Navy Country Club was able to add another table for us.

Stephanie presented on what OBO is planning in the coming months and years and what contract opportunities are upcoming for the AEC community. Stephanie, a 19-year veteran of the Bureau, gave us a comprehensive and in-depth presentation. In addition to our guest speaker, we gave out our annual awards recognizing the firms and individuals that make this Post the best it possibly can be. Overall, it was a great day of networking, learning, and honoring contributions.

LMP Event

The DC & NoVA Posts are proud to host the “O-G” Regional Leadership & Mentoring Program (LMP) – one of the first within SAME founded in approximately 2016. We facilitate monthly discussions between our 12 members of this year’s class and our speakers who are Fellows, leaders in/from government, and unofficial mentors from across our Society.

We kicked off the 2025 SAME DC & NoVA Post Leadership & Mentoring Program on 22 Jan 2025 at the KCCT Architects office in DC with thirteen (13) participants across the military, government, and private industry. This year, our SAME National President, Sharon Krock, F.SAME, welcomed the class to our program and gave a brief overview about SAME and our 2030 Strategic Plan. Thank you to Bree Beal and KCCT for hosting and your hospitality!

Next, our very own COL Pete Mueller, PE, USA Ret, F.SAME will speak to our class on 19 Feb 2025 about Leadership Lessons from the U.S. Army, private industry, and from his experiences as a SES and Chief Engineer at the Architect of the Capitol! We will be hosted by Ms. Karen Durham-Aguilera and LTC Paul Sipe at Arlington National Cemetery – thanks KD-A for your wonderful support our LMP!

A Note From DC Mathcounts

Thanks to your our DC and NOVA Post volunteers for helping grade test booklets at the Chapter Competition on 8 Feb 2025 at Saint Anselms Abbey! We will be next looking for volunteers to help support at the State Competition on Saturday, 15 March. Reach out to Ed Chamberlayne if interested!

Upcoming Events

Come out on Wednesday February 19th for a fun night of networking, food, drinks and Bowling! We will be at the FMWR Bowling Center at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall at Fort Myer from 5 pm - 7 pm.

Let's see how many strikes we can get!

Lunch with GMU Student Chapter

Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025

Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Location: George Mason University

Lunch Program at the Johnson Center (JC) Bistro on the Ground Floor

Park in the Mason Pond Parking Deck (4500 Aquia Creek Ln, Fairfax, VA 22030)

Please join us for our annual SAME-CEI George Mason University Luncheon with the SAME NoVA Post GMU Student Chapter and students from other Engineering Clubs. This event offers a great opportunity to engage with our students, learn about their current projects, and discuss their post-graduation plans. If you are seeking interns or new hires, this is an ideal venue.



Student presentations and project discussions will take place from 11:30 AM to 12:10 PM. Please arrive by 11:30 AM to ensure you don't miss these presentations.

Our Guest Speaker, Colleen Agan, will be speaking about Workforce Development.

Loudoun County Public Schools are seeking judges and award sponsors to help recognize and encourage high school students to showcase how they are the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators. Your expertise and support can make a significant impact.

The 43rd Annual Loudoun County Regional Science & Engineering Fair (RSEF) will be held Wednesday, March 19, at John Champe High School, bringing together more than 300 high school students as they present their research in various STEM fields.

• In-person judging at John Champe High School: Wednesday, March 19
• Awards ceremony at John Champe High School: Thursday, March 20, 7 p.m.

How you can get involved:



Judge a category

Sponsor an award

Donate a prize

Please contact Julia if you would like to get involved.

Announcements

2024 SAME NoVA Post Awards

February is Awards Month! This is our opportunity to celebrate the Post members who contribute to our programming, communications, committees, and overall operations. Your dedication ensures we continue to provide value to our members.

Thank you all for your hard work and commitment to our Post!

2030 Strategic Plan

In January 2025, the Society officially implemented the 2030 SAME Strategic Plan, outlining the mission, vision, goals, and objectives that will focus the efforts of members, partners and stakeholders over the next five years. The 2030 SAME Strategic Plan is driven by a vision to serve as the trusted integrator across the A/E/C and related professions in addressing our nation’s economic and security interests at home and abroad, with a mission to lead collaboration in support of our national security priorities. Each of these is underpinned by a commitment to advancing three interdependent goals: Drive Partnerships, Deliver Solutions, and Develop People.

We, as a SAME Post, adhere to the Strategic Plan and Goals with our events, connections, and partnerships. By focusing on the Goals, we will help to better the community and world around us.

Please take some time to review the NEW Strategic Plan and the Goals to have a better understanding of the Society of American Military Engineers and its impact in our industry.

Sponsorships Available

There's still time to sign up!

Please join as an Annual Sponsor for 2025 to support our Post so we can continue to provide scholarships to college students, funding for high school students to go to SAME camps and support our local STEM Community.

Click here for the flyer and more information.

Questions? Contact either:

Lisa Krowne

(lkrowne@terraconstructs.com) 

OR



Danaila Paspalanova: (dpaspalanova@qtsgrp.com)

Scholarship Applications

Our STEM applications for the 2025-2026 Academic year are open!

DEADLINE is March 1^st, 2025

Please send the link below to a High School senior, college undergraduate or graduate students whose home of residence is in the Northern Virginia region.

Check out our website or click below for the link to the Scholarship Application.

Questions? Contact Carlos Flores-Garay

SAME Camps Program

SAME’s STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps offer high school students interested in a highly unique STEM experience the chance to spend a week at a military base learning engineering, construction and design, while developing leadership skills and discovering the potential of a career in STEM.

Pass this on to high school students that you know.

SAME Survey

Our Survey is still open! Anyone who fills out the survey from February 11^th through our Happy Hour Bowling event on February 19^th will be entered into another drawing for a $100 gift card.

We value your input, suggestions, and comments about our Post and how we can continue to provide a value to our members.

Upcoming Veterans Events:

Feb 26, 2025 | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM 

MOAA’s Virtual Career Fair and Hiring Event

Information and Registration Here

Feb 28, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM 

MOAA’s Executive Career Transition Accelerator Seminar

MOAA Headquarters, Alexandria

(Virtual attendance option available)

Information and Registration Here

Highlighted Organization

To prepare for next month, which was designated in 1986 as the Month of the Military Child, we wanted you all to be aware of Purple Up! Day on April 17^th.

Please consider wearing purple that day to show your support for Military Youth. 

We are supporting Lock & Talk in their promotion of the event.

Feb 19, 2025

Bowling Networking Event

Fort Myer Bowling Alley

Tickets & Information

Mar 6, 2025

Lunch with GMU Student Chapter

GMU Campus, Fairfax

Tickets & Information

SAME DC & Mid-Maryland Posts

Mar 26, 2025 - after Cap Week

Bowling Social Networking Lunch & SAME Foundation FUN-Raiser

North Bethesda, MD

Tickets & Information

SAME DC & NoVA Posts

June 26, 2025

Indoor Rock Climbing

Sportrock, Alexandria

Registration & Information

SAME DC & NoVA Posts

Save the Date | July 9th, 2025

17th Small Business Conference

Information