Perham Sworn In as 104th SAME President

On May 3 at the 2023 Joint Engineer Training Conference in San Antonio, Col. Charlie Perham, F.SAME, USAF (Ret.), was sworn in as the 104th National President of SAME.

In this role, Perham leads the National Leadership Team and the SAME Board of Direction in overseeing the governance and strategic efforts of the Society, its 25,000 members, 1,500 member companies, and 100 Posts around the world. A member of SAME since 1997, Perham was invested as a Fellow in 2020. Professionally, he is Vice President with Matrix Design Group Inc., and a member of the San Antonio Post.

Perham, an ROTC graduate from the University of New Hampshire, entered the U.S. Air Force as a civil engineering officer in 1992. He held successively senior positions during his nearly 23-year military career, including Defense Fellow, U.S. Senate (Hillary Clinton); Afghan Army Construction Chief, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan; Deputy Director, Basing Office of the Secretary of Defense; and Commander, 99th Mission Support Group.

He joined Matrix Design Group in 2015, and since 2019 has served the company as Vice President and Director of Government Consulting Services. Perham holds master’s degrees from the National War College and Air Force Institute of Technology.

Within SAME, Perham has held numerous leadership positions at all levels of the Society, including Chair of the Academy of Fellows (2021-2022) and National Vice President (2020-2022). He also served as Co-Chair on the 2025 Strategic Plan Task Force; Elected Director (2018-2020); Southwest Regional Vice President (2013-2015); and Southern Arizona Post President (2009-2010). In 2018, he received the Energy & Sustainability COI Appreciation Award for his outstanding contributions. Most recently, as President-Elect (2022-2023), he oversaw the Communities of Interest focused on technical matters.

Perham also has had a first-hand opportunity to observe past Society President during their terms. While in the Air Force, in 2008 he was Executive Officer to Maj. Gen. Del Eulberg, F.SAME, USAF, the 88th SAME President; in 2018, while in the private sector at Matrix Design Group, Perham was the deputy for Col. Sal Nodjomian, F.SAME, USAF (Ret.), when he was the 98th SAME President.

After taking the oath, Perham spoke to the audience of more than 2,000 JETC attendees in the city where he lives, highlighting his message for the organization and how he foresees members continuing to build on the momentum that has been created over the last several years as the Society deftly focused its mission on strengthening industry-government engagement and developing leaders for the profession.

“I have an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Society,” Perham said. “The history of SAME is incredible, and I encourage each and every one of you to take the time to learn our history and share it with all of our members.”

“I believe SAME boils down to two things: finding value, and then being the value for others. I have no doubt that the thousands of you here this week will find value in your engagement. My hope is that each of you are inspired by this and go back to your home posts and volunteer to be the value for others—lead, mentor, volunteer, inspire others to join. This is the best way to give back. This next year is going to be amazing for SAME—from our tremendous leader development programs to world-class industry-government engagement. Get involved and make a difference, then be the value. I look forward to advancing our causes together.”

Perham will be supported on the National Leadership Team by Sharon Krock, F.SAME, President-Elect; Cindy Lincicome, F.SAME, Past President; and three Vice Presidents: Lt. Col. Mike Darrow, F.SAME, USA (Ret.), Mike Huffstetler, F.SAME, and Ben Matthews, F.SAME.

Founded in 1920, SAME through its more than 25,000 members builds leaders and leads collaboration among government and industry to develop multi-disciplined solutions to national security infrastructure challenges. With a National Office in Alexandria, Va., and over 100 local Posts and Field Chapters around the world, the Society unites military, public, private, and academic sector individuals and organizations from across the architecture, engineering, construction, environmental and facility management, cyber security, and contracting disciplines.