SAME Transitions Its Executive Director

During the 2023 Post Leaders Workshop, Aug. 6-8 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Brig. Gen. Joseph Schroedel, P.E., F.SAME, USA (Ret.), officially transferred the duties of SAME Executive Director to Maj. Gen. Michael Wehr, P.E., USA (Ret.), closing out a nine-year tenure in which he led the Society through its Centennial Celebration in 2020 and firmly established a mission and focus for the organization built around strengthening industry-government engagement and leading collaboration across the profession. Wehr started as the 18th SAME Executive Director on Aug. 1, 2023 as part of a two-week transition period where he met with staff and began his onboarding before meeting with the Society’s volunteer leadership at Post Leaders Workshop.

As Executive Director, Schroedel played a pivotal role in many transformational moments for SAME, including institutionalizing our first multi-year strategic plan in 2015; establishing the SAME Foundation in 2016; launching the SAME Leader Development Program in 2019; selling the Century House (SAME’s home for more than 40 years) and moving the National Office into newly renovated space at the Washington Engineering Center; and investing in an integrated Enterprise Management System that has set the Society to continue to be able to adapt and grow as it moves forward in its second century.

Through the entire period he served as Executive Director, Schroedel led with a contagious enthusiasm and motivational vision to focus on outcomes, emphasize recognition, and drive engagement and impact, summarized in his oft-repeated mantra Deeds Not Words!

Consistent with Schroedel’s passion for and stewardship of SAME’s history, exemplified in 2021 with the publication of the award-winning SAME Century Book, which he commissioned on behalf of the Society during its Centennial Celebration, he took the opportunity of the “XD Transition” to create a public Change of of Responsibility, formally represented by the handing over of a case containing a number of historical items that highlight the many roles the Executive Director performs as the chief salaried administrator of SAME. This includes both the leadership of the National Office staff and as a member of the National Leadership Team, supporting the Board of Direction and SAME’s Post Presidents. Since 2016, the position also has dually served 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.

Included in the case are symbols of the executive responsibilities of the Office of the Executive Director of SAME and the SAME Foundation, assumed in commitment of the individual’s talents, energy, and passion to extend SAME’s enduring impact.

Protect and Nurture our National Values and SAME Brand. Extend SAME’s stated purpose of “serving no selfish ends”. May this copy of our national Constitution and this copy of an Army Navy prayer book (dated 1918) that was carried during WWI, be reminders of our service to a purpose greater than ourselves: patriotism and national security. Be the vocal champion of our enduring legacy of selfless service which is our widely recognized brand.

Set the Direction. Guide SAME’s long-term success to extend our legacy of impact. May this Vietnam era military tactical compass be a reminder that it is the sum of the purposeful steps taken enroute that ultimately ensure mission accomplishment and enduring impact.

Lead and Build Trust. Extend SAME’s legacy of leaders who inspired contributions to our mission and investments in our purpose. May these military leadership tabs be a reminder of the selfless leadership that inspired our nation to success on the battlefield, on the project site, and in the world economy. In their spirit, lead our Society and our National Office.

Grow SAME’s Resources. Extend SAME’s stature as a professionally run and viable business. May these SAME and Regional RVP coins, which are symbols of excellence, serve as a reminder that our greatest asset is the service of our members. Grow the resources necessary to enable the success of our serving and future members in their service to our nation, their profession, and SAME.

Enable Post Success. Extend our founding fathers’ faith in the power of local Posts as the key to productive relationships and service. May this Distinguished Post Streamer be a reminder that we are a Society of vibrant Posts that are relevant locally and contribute to the national strategic plan in the manner they deem best.

Foster Productive Industry-Government Collaboration. Gain momentum toward being recognized as the one organization to which individual professionals and stakeholder groups turn to leverage their capabilities. May this WWII-era spring divider be a reminder that problems are solved by assembling teams of people with the right skills and the right tools of the time. Expand SAME’s access to the widest assemblage of skills and tools.

The formal hand-off was presided over by Col. Charlie Perham, F.SAME, USAF (Ret.), SAME National President, who provided remarks thanking Schroedel and welcoming Wehr. A short tribute video also was shown, highlighting some of the countless memorable moments during the last nine years, while staff presented a signed copy of the SAME Century Book with personal messages inscribed.

Schroedel joined SAME in August 2014, following a 34-year career in the U.S. Army and then several years with A/E/C firm Parsons Brinckerhoff. 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. 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, he 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.