Congratulations 2023 Awards & Medals Winners

Congratulations to the recipients of SAME’s 2023 National Awards and Medals. This year’s recipients will be honored at the 2024 JETC in Orlando, Fla., during an award ceremony at the Society Ball & Awards Gala on May 16. JETC will also be highlighted by the presentation of the Golden Eagle Award by the Academy of Fellows. The Golden Eagle Award recognizes a recipient who has made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession over the course of their career.

SAME annually presents medals and awards to individuals and organizations from the public and private sectors in recognition of achievement in support of the A/E/C profession, national security objectives, and the SAME Strategic Plan. Visit the SAME Awards & Recognition page for more information about each award and past recipients.

Golden Eagle Awards

For outstanding contributions to the engineering profession.

Jane Penny, P.E., F.SAME (Dist.)

SAME National Awards & Medals

Walter O. Bachus Gold Medal

For outstanding leadership and accomplishments in support of the SAME mission over one’s entire period of membership in the Society.

Col. Robert “Bob” Keyser, P.E., F.SAME, USA (Ret.), Tetra Tech

Gerald C. Brown Mentoring Award

For outstanding efforts and contributions in mentoring.

Col. Sal Nodjomian, P.E., F.SAME (Dist.), USAF (Ret.), Matrix Design Group Inc.

President’s Medal

For outstanding leadership and accomplishment in support of the SAME Strategic Plan during the President’s year of office.

Charysse Knotts, P.E., PMP, LEED AP, F.SAME, Black & Veatch

Albert Romano, F.SAME, Industry Consultant

Col. Brian Duffy, USAF (Ret.), Stanley Consultants

Belle Febbraro, SAME

Bliss Medal

For excellence in educating, mentoring, and motivating students in architecture, engineering, and related disciplines.

Col. James Schreiner, PMP, USA, U.S. Military Academy West Point

Goethals Medal           

For eminent and notable contributions in engineering, design, or construction.

Col. Robin Cababa, P.E., USA (Ret.), AECOM

Sverdrup Medal

For engineering leadership by a uniformed Young Professional

Lt. Cmdr. Timothy Dahms, P.E., CEC, USN, Officer in Charge of Construction China Lake

Tudor Medal

For outstanding contributions to engineering, design, construction, research & development, or planning by a civilian Young Professional member.

Michael Brengel, P.E., Burns & McDonnell

Urbahn Medal

For preeminence in architecture

Maj. William Kontess, RA, F.SAME, USAF (Ret.), Michael Baker International

Paul R. Smith NCO Medal

For outstanding leadership and contributions to military engineering.

Tech. Sgt. Joshua Dane, USAF, 786th Civil Engineer Squadron

Young Professional Medal

For outstanding leadership and accomplishments in support of the SAME mission.

Joshua Graham, P.E., PMP, CCM, F.SAME, HDR

Post Service Medal

For significant and faithful service to SAME at the Post level.

Chief Master Sgt. Robert “Frank” Lovett, F.SAME, USAF (Ret.), Ramstein Air Base

Gibson Veteran Transition Medal

For outstanding support assisting veterans with their transition out of uniform. 

Maj. Gen. Anthony Funkhouser, P.E., USA (Ret.), AECOM

STEM Champion Award – Individual

For excellence and leadership by an individual supporting STEM.

Harold Eberbach, KMEA

STEM Excellence Post Award

For excellence and execution in supporting STEM.

Blue Ridge Post

Industry-Government Engagement Award – Individual

For excellence in enhancing collaboration between industry and government.

Lt. Col. Joseph Corrigan, P.E., USA (Ret.), Corrigan & Ussery LLC

Industry-Government Engagement Award – Post

For excellence in enhancing collaboration between industry and government.

Houston Post    

Toulmin Medal

For most outstanding article in The Military Engineer authored by an SAME member.

Henrik Dahl, COWI North America

Victor Tirado, P.E., GHD

Robert B. Flowers Corporate Member Award

For eminent contributions to SAME by a Corporate Member organization (Small Business).

Gurri Matute PA

Seymour S. Greenfield Corporate Member Award

For eminent contributions to SAME by a Corporate Member organization (Medium Business).

Pond & Company

J.W. Morris Corporate Member Award

For eminent contributions to SAME by a Corporate Member organization (Large Business).

Tetra Tech, Inc.

Uniformed Service Awards – Army

Sturgis Medal – Active

For outstanding contributions to military troop construction and/or base maintenance by demonstrated technical and leadership ability.

Sgt. 1st Class Marcus Smith-McGee, USA
510th Combat Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade
Fort Cavazos, Texas

Sturgis Medal – Reserve

For outstanding contributions to military troop construction and/or base maintenance by demonstrated technical and leadership ability.

Staff Sgt. Jason Brothers, USAR
375th Engineer Company, 467th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade
Huntsville, Ala.

Sturgis Medal – Guard

For outstanding contributions to military troop construction and/or base maintenance by demonstrated technical and leadership ability.

Staff Sgt. Blake Byrne, ARNG
203rd Engineer Battalion, Missouri National Guard
Joplin, Mo.

Itschner Award – Active

For most outstanding Army engineering company.

523rd Engineer Support Company
84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

Itschner Award – Reserves

For most outstanding Army engineering company.

284th Engineer Company
961st Engineer Battalion, 416th Theater Engineer Command
Seagoville, Texas

Itschner Award – Guard

For most outstanding Army engineering company.

922nd Engineer Vertical Construction Company
528th Engineer Battalion, Louisiana National Guard
Monroe, La.

David M. Fraser Award

For engineering excellence and leadership by an USMA First Class Cadet.

Cadet Elijah Ruiz
U.S. Military Academy

Uniformed Service Awards – Navy

Moreell Medal

For outstanding contributions to military engineering.

Lt. Cdr. Matthew Ward, CEC, USN
NAVFAC Far East

Shields Medal

For outstanding contributions to facility construction and/or maintenance.

Utilitiesman 1st Class Aaron Ness, USN
NAVFAC Northwest

Toner Award

For outstanding contributions to military engineering by an active duty or reserve Civil Engineer Corps officer, O1 – O3.

Lt. Austin Howard, USN
NAVFAC Northwest

Uniformed Service Awards – Air Force

Goddard Medal

For outstanding contributions to military engineering, including troop construction, base maintenance, and contingency engineering.

Senior Master Sgt. Zachary Kuns, USAF
35th Civil Engineer Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan

Newman Medal

For outstanding contributions to military engineering.

Col. Justin Morrison, USAF
18th Civil Engineer Group, Kadena AB, Japan

Newman Medal

For outstanding contributions to military engineering.

Amy Doye
6th Civil Engineer Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.

Curtin Award – Large Unit

For most outstanding Air Force engineering group or squadron.

86th Civil Engineer Group
Ramstein AB, Germany

Curtin Award – Small Unit

For most outstanding Air Force engineering group or squadron.

366th Civil Engineer Squadron
Mountain Home AFB, Ida.

Curtin Award – Reserve

For most outstanding Air Force engineering group or squadron.

434th Civil Engineer Squadron
Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind.

Uniformed Service Awards – Coast Guard

Oren Medal

For outstanding contributions to military engineering.

Lt. Cdr. Joshua Smolowitz, USCG
Civil Engineering Unit Cleveland

Sargent Medal

For outstanding contributions to civil or facilities engineering.

Chief Warrant Officer David Mann, USCG
Civil Engineering Unit Oakland

RADM Thomas Jones Excellence Award

For most outstanding Coast Guard civil engineering unit.

Civil Engineering Unit Honolulu

Cowart Award – Facility Engineering

For most outstanding Coast Guard facility engineering unit.

Base Elizabeth City’s Facilities Engineering Department

Uniformed Service Awards – Public Health Service

Green Medal

For outstanding contributions to public health engineering and science by an officer, 0-3 or below, or civilian or equivalent grade.

Lt. Hom Sharma, USPHS
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Hollis Medal

For outstanding contributions to public health engineering and science.

Lt. Cdr. Craig Grunenfelder, USPHS
Indian Health Service

Cumming Award

For most outstanding Public Health Service engineering or science organization.             

Commissioned Corps Headquarters Readiness and Deployment Branch Data Team

Uniformed Service Awards – NOAA

Karo Award

For outstanding contribution in an engineering or scientific field

Holt Watters Antarctic Field Camp Team

Colbert Medal

For outstanding contribution to engineering through achievement in design, construction, administration, research, or development

Lt. Taylor Krabiel, NOAA
NOAA Corps