Rocky Mountain USACE Industry Day

Jan. 29 / New Air Force Academy

Hotel Polaris

Click Here for the Registration Link.

What to Expect:

(Arrival, Parking, Registration, Agenda)

Hotel Polaris at the U.S. Air Force Academy
8989 N Gate Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO

0650 – 0710: Arrive at Hotel Polaris
0720: Gate Traffic Congestion
0720: Registration Table Open
0730: Networking & Coffee
0755: Please be Seated
0800: Welcome, D20 JROTC Color Guard
National Anthem (USAFA Band)
Pledge of Allegiance

Keynote Speaker:
U.S. Army Col. Don Nestor, PMP
Deputy Director for Logistics and Engineering
NORAD / USNORTHCOM

Colonel Don A. Nestor Jr. received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers in 1996.

                Upon completion of the Engineer Officer Basic Course, he served in the 9^th Engineer Battalion, 1^st Infantry Division, in Schweinfurt, Germany, as a Line Platoon Leader, Battalion Maintenance Officer/ Shop Officer, and Executive Officer (XO) and deployed to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian.  After attending the Engineer Captains’ Career Course and receiving a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri at Rolla, he served with the 4^th Engineer Battalion, 3^rd Brigade Combat Team, 4^th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, as a Battalion Logistics Officer, Battalion Assistant Operations Officer, and Charlie Company Commander from 2001-2004.  During the four years he served in the 4^th Engineer Battalion, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (I-II) conducting continuous combat operations in the vicinity of Kirkuk, Iraq.

                From 2005-2007, Colonel Nestor served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Los Angeles District as both an Area Commander and leader of the Commander’s Initiatives Group.  During his assignment with the Los Angeles District, COL Nestor deployed with the Afghanistan Engineer District (2005) as a project engineer overseeing the construction of an Afghan National Army Camp in Mazar-e-Sharif.

                Colonel Nestor attended both the Intermediate Level Education (ILE) and School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, from 2007-2009 where he earned a Master’s Degree in Military Arts and Sciences.  Following ILE and SAMS, he was assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado (2009-2012), where he served as the 4^th Infantry Division Engineer Planner prior to his assignment to the 1^st Brigade Combat Team, 4^th Infantry Division.  COL Nestor served as the Executive Officer for both the 1^st Special Troops Battalion and 1^st Brigade Combat Team and deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, conducting full spectrum operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

                Colonel Nestor served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Tulsa District as the Deputy District Commander (2012-2014) immediately prior to taking command of the 8^th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2^nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1^st Cavalry Division.  He commanded the 8^th Brigade Engineer Battalion (June 2014 – May 2016) and deployed the battalion to the Republic of Korea in the vicinity of Camp Casey/Hovey as part of the first 9-month rotational Brigade Combat Team supporting the 2^nd Infantry Division. 

Following battalion command, COL Nestor was assigned to U.S. Africa Command as the Engineer Branch Chief (2016 – 2018) and Set the Theater Line of Effort Integrator (2018-2020).  Following U.S. Africa Command COL Nestor was assigned to U.S. Forces Japan (August 2020 – July 2022) as the Command Engineer.  COL Nestor is currently assigned as the Deputy J4 and Command Engineer for North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (August 2022 – present).

                His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (x2), Bronze Star Medal with Valor, the Bronze Star Medal (x3), Meritorious Service Medal (x5), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (x2), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Afghanistan Campaign, Korean Defense Service and NATO Medals, and both the Ranger and Parachutist Badges.

U.S. Army Col. Robert Newbauer, PE
Commander and District Engineer
USACE Omaha District

COL Robert J. Newbauer assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District on July 26, 2023, and served most recently as a Military Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe/Commander, U.S. European Command in Mons, Belgium.

COL Newbauer received his commission in the U.S. Army in May 2000. A native of Allegan, MI, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor’s Degree
in Civil Engineering. After completing the Engineer Officer Basic Course, COL Newbauer’s first assignment was to the U.S. Army Dive Company at Fort Eustis, VA where he served as a Dive Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer from 2001-2004.

Prior to his assignment in Belgium, COL Newbauer graduated from the George C. Marshall Center for European Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Before that, he commanded the 40th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, TX.

Additionally, COL Newbauer’s past assignments include Deputy District Commander, Louisville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, from 2016-2018. COL Newbauer also served as an Observer, Controller, Trainer at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany. He has deployed numerous times to Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, COL Newbauer has extensive time on the European Continent working and training alongside Allies and Partners.

His military education includes the U.S. Army Engineer Officer Advanced and Basic Courses, and the Basic and Salvage Diving Officer Course, and the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA. COL Newbauer holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, a Master’s Degree in Geological Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, and a Master’s Degree in Operational  Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College from Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL.  He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Alabama.

COL Newbauer’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO medal, Sapper Tab, Airborne Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Diving Officer Badge.

Peter L. Sturdivant, PE, PG
Chief of Engineering and Construction
Northwestern Division, USACE

Pete Sturdivant as worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) since 2002. He is currently serving as the Chief of Engineering and Construction for the Northwestern Division, USACE.

Pete graduated from Trinity University in 1990 with a B.S. Degree in Geology. He received a M.S. Degree in Engineering Geology from Texas A&M University in 1993. Prior to joining the USACE in 2002, Mr. Sturdivant worked as a geotechnical and geological consultant for consulting firms in Colorado Springs, CO. He is a Service Disabled Army Veteran having served as an Engineer Officer in the United States, Germany, Kuwait and the former Yugoslavia.

Prior to his current assignment Pete served as the Chief of Engineering as well as the Chief of Construction in Omaha District. From 2020-2021 he served in HQ USACE as the Interim Chief of Engineering and Construction, Civil Works Directorate. He also served as the Senior Resident Engineer leading and supervising the USACE team responsible for completion of the Aurora VA Medical Center completion contract, and led a team from USACE responsible for design and construction of several COVID Alternate Care Facilities in Colorado in 2020. Other supervisory engineering and construction assignments include: Area Engineer, Special Projects Construction Office (Omaha); Resident Engineer, US Air Force Academy/Schriever Air Force Base and Stryker Resident Office (Baghdad), and; Senior Project Engineer at Fort Carson, Colorado. He is an instructor for the PROSPECT Design/Build Construction class and previously taught the Construction Quality Management for Contractors course.

Pete is a 2003 graduate of Omaha District’s Leadership Development Program. He is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Colorado and Professional Geologist in Colorado. He is DAWIA Level III Certified and an Administrative Contracting Officer. He is an active member of the Design-Build Institute of America and the Society of American Military Engineers.

In his spare time, Pete enjoys fly fishing, snowboarding, kayaking, scuba diving and exercise of all types with his wife and children.