Event Recap: JETC 2024

JETC 2024: Operation Collaboration

Recapping the 2024 Joint Engineer Training Conference

The 2024 JETC officially kicked off May 14, where more than 2,700 attendees joined colleagues, friends, and future business partners in Orlando, Fla. Tuesday was the first of three days of opportunities to meet and network with fellow professionals, join education sessions, organize business engagements, and visit an exhibit floor filled with representatives presenting hands-on demonstrations and information from every facet of the A/E/C community. 

The Opening General Session began with Col. Charlie Perham, F.SAME, USAF (Ret.), SAME National President, welcoming attendees and encouraging them to take advantage of the many unique opportunities that JETC offers industry and government to come together in service to the defense of our nation. Perham reinforced the theme of “collaboration” this year’s JETC is focused on and illustrated the opportunities that SAME provides to connect industry professionals and bolster their relationships with agency partners.

After the graduating members of the fifth cohort of the Leader Development Program walked the stage as they were introduced, Col. Robert Keyser, F.SAME, USA (Ret.) stepped forward to receive the prestigious Walter O. Bacchus Gold Medal for SAME Lifetime Achievement. The energy in the auditorium grew as 12-time Olympic medalist Dara Torres inspired the audience with stories of tenacity, longevity and consistency that helped her become the most decorated female Olympian of all time. Her story is one of perseverance and defying limitations.

The General Session then let out to a day filled with hours of concurrent education sessions. A total of 31 were presented throughout the day. Topics ranged from improving resilience through electrification, strategies for airfield planning, and a discussion of how AI can streamline project efficiency. Also in the days’ lineup was the Warfighter Seminar, Geospatial Working Group meeting, and IGE Roundtables focused on the continuing discussions on the topic of risk, and ways to improve the balance of sharing that risk.

On Tuesday night, the Opening Reception ended the first day of JETC at Universal CityWalk. The energetic venue had live reggae and karaoke that fueled the upbeat vibe. Attendees strolled the party atmosphere, met with friends, and networked until the very late hours.

Building Pathways

Day Two of JETC started off Wednesday morning with a General Session, where Perham spoke on the importance of making connections, learning from one another, and building paths to true collaboration for the good of the Society and future of national security. 

After welcoming a contingent of Guardians from the U.S. Space Force, Perham thanked the Society for their support over his tenure the last year. He then thanked the National Leadership Team and Board of Direction. The audience heard the names of the outgoing board members, and Perham called on Sharon Krock, F.SAME, to take the oath of office and officially transition as the 105th National President of SAME.

In her introductory remarks, Krock spoke of the importance of seeking out opportunities to grow and lead, the importance of mentorship for the advancement of SAME’s mission, and the value derived from sharing the value you get from participating in SAME programs and events; because by telling the story of what you get out of your engagement in the Society it will encourage others to be involved as well.

In her introductory remarks, Krock spoke of the importance of seeking out opportunities to grow and lead, the importance of mentorship for the advancement of SAME’s mission, and the value derived from sharing the value you get from participating in SAME programs and events; because by telling the story of what you get out of your engagement in the Society it will encourage others to be involved as well. She then highlighted the just-approved 2030 SAME Strategic Plan (which goes in effect, January 2025), and teased the three new, interdependent goals that will drive SAME’s efforts: Drive Partnership, Deliver Solutions, and Develop People. The next strategic plan will be detailed in the coming months ahead of its launch.

The balance of the session featured the Engineering Chiefs for a panel discussion. The leaders discussed the value of collaboration, and the acute need for it as the government faces dynamic workloads and workforce challenges. The panelists (representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and NOAA) also emphasized ways to streamline project delivery and precipitating events that could weigh heavily on execution timelines.

Overwhelmingly, the theme of collaboration was a focus for each of the agencies. With massive and complex mission sets, each service has unique challenges that it faces, but none can go it alone. Industry and government collaboration are critical to the future and the success of each of the services represented today. That sentiment was especially evident as each service leader spoke of the need for partnerships in dealing with the pressing threats of climate change and cybersecurity.

The informative General Session let out into another full day of concurrent sessions with a total of 25 education opportunities. Topics spanned a wide range of subjects from cyber-resilience in AI-driven industrial control systems, to more effective military airfield repair, to a discussion on the Space Force’s approach to mission support success. Additionally, the FAM Forum held its In-Brief, another two IGE Roundtables were held, while the Warfighter Seminar conducted its wrap-up discussion of key takeaways from the two-day forum. 

To round out the day, the JETC exhibit hall became the venue for a casual networking reception. Attendees had the chance to make new friends, engage colleagues, and redeem those drink tickets in a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere!

Delivering Solutions

Thursday, May 16 was the final day of JETC, and while the hours were shorter (not including the Society Ball) it was equally packed with educational sessions. A total of 16 sessions from two concurrent blocks held discussions covering topics ranging from the use of tunnels as an effective solution for flood control, to understanding the challenges of designing resilient micro-grid systems, to strategies for increasing your leadership potential.

The Academy of Fellows held its 2024 Fellows Investiture , officially welcoming the 23 members of the Fellows Class of 2024 and also bestowed the title of Distinguished Fellow on Maj. Gen. Tim Byers, F.SAME (Dist.), USAF (Ret.), the 16th in the Society since the designation was established in 2018. This year, the recipient of the 2024 Gerald C. Brown Mentoring Award, which is given annually to a Fellow for outstanding mentoring efforts was presented to Col. Sal Nodjomian, P.E., F.SAME (Dist.), USAF (Ret.).

To close out a very successful JETC, the Society Reception followed by the Society Ball & Awards Gala capped the week in formal red-carpet style to celebrate the SAME National and Uniformed Services awards and medal winners. Headlining the awards and medals presented was the Golden Eagle Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Engineering Profession, awarded to Jane Penny, F.SAME (Dist.), the 96th National President of SAME and presently a board member for the SAME Foundation.

Effecting Change, Together

Throughout the general sessions, education sessions, technical seminars, demonstrations, side meetings, evening activities, and interactions on the exhibit floor, attendees at the 2024 JETC were pivotal in fostering the industry-government engagement necessary to receive feedback, exchange ideas, and devise solutions for the significant challenges confronting the engineering sector and the nation.

SAME (and JETC) is the catalyst to effect change and, through focused and productive collaboration, bring stakeholders together to deliver solutions at every level in support of national security.

Just Ahead …

While this year’s JETC may have concluded, the anticipation for SAME’s Federal Small Business Conference is building! Scheduled for Nov. 20-24, 2024, in New Orleans, La., the market research event of the year for the federal A/E/C sector presents an invaluable chance to network with top professionals, key decision-makers, industry solution providers, business partners, and federal contracting officers.

You’re encouraged to contribute your innovative ideas to the 2024 SBC. The Call for Presentations is open until May 30. We are seeking presentations in four tracks; presenters may submit a maximum of two proposals for review.

Call for Presentations

Entering the Federal Marketplace – Ideas and approaches to promote and position a business that’s new to federal work.

Marketing & Business Development – What businesses need to understand about how to promote and position themselves, the uniqueness of selling to the government, and how to build brand awareness.

Regulations, Rules, and the Government Framework – Sessions focusing on what small businesses need to understand about ever-changing and evolving government laws, regulations, guidelines, and programs.

Advanced Business & Procurement Strategies – The means and methods for established businesses looking to excel and grow further.