Toulmin Award

The Toulmin Medal was created by Col. H.A. Toulmin, U.S. Army Air Corps, and first awarded in 1932. Two medals may be awarded annually—one to a Regular Member of SAME (including Life, Enlisted, Fully-Retired or Sustaining Member Representative) and one to a Young Member of SAME—based on quality of the article.

Eligibility

In order for an article to be eligible for consideration for the Toulmin Medal:

All authors of an individual article in The Military Engineer must be a member of SAME prior to publication of the article. In the case of multiple authors of an article, the lead author of the winning article will be awarded the Toulmin Medal.

Nomination Criteria

The published article must:

Contribute to the knowledge of military engineering or national security; and
Publicize and preserve the accomplishments of engineers in their missions throughout the world.

Nomination and Submission Process

No nominations are accepted for this medal. A committee selects based on the articles published in The Military Engineer in the prior year.

Evaluation Criteria:

Articles that are eligible for the Toulmin Medal and meet the nomination criteria will be evaluated by a panel of judges based on the overall quality of the article including writing style, and the use of strong examples and real-life scenarios, up-to-date facts, sound approaches to solving problems and, where applicable, concise information that addresses the impact of the method, technology or system to users in the years ahead.

Past Toulmin Medal Recipients

2023 Henrik Dahl, COWI North America & Victor Tirado, P.E., GHD – Modernizing Dry Dock No. 1 at Naval Base San Diego
2022 William Boudra, P.E., F.SAME, NAVFAC Guam Program Management Office – Building an Operating Platform in the Western Pacific
2021 Designing a National Asset, JJ Tang, LEED AP, FAIA, F.SAME, HDR Inc. | Michael Doiel, AIA, HDR Inc. | Matthew Bird, P.E., PMP, USACE Northwestern Division
2020 RDML Dean VanderLey, P.E., USN | John “J.C.” Douglass, AICP – Modernizing Shipyards for the Fleet of the Future
2019 Jon Schmidt, P.E., SECB, Burns & McDonnell | “Evolving Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings”
2018 Steven Miles, P.E., F.SAME, USACE Hydroelectric Design Center | “Corps Power is Water Power”
2017 Rob McAtee, P.E., CEM, LEED AP, Mason & Hanger | “Designing for Energy Security in an Unsecure World”
2016 Lt. Col. Kevin Lovell, PMP, USA (Ret.)
2015 Maj. Erica Tortella, USAF – Mission Support to Mission Essential: An Analysis of Air Force Engineer Doctrine and Capabilities
2014 Maj. Tobin Flinn, PMP, USA – Expeditionary, Agile and Ready to Deploy
2013 Col. Douglas P. Wise, P.E., CEM, GBE, USAF (Ret.) – Energy Security: A National Roadmap
2012 Lt. Col. John Buse, P.E., USAFR; Co-Author: Col. Joel Cross, PMP, USA – Transition to Diplomacy
2011 Col. Jeffry Knippel, USAF – Two Models, One Mission
2010 Col. Michael Hutchison, LEED AP, F.SAME, USAF (Ret.) Advancing MILCON Transformation
2009 Maj. Frank R. Hughes, P.E., USAF, 65th Civil Engineer Squandron – Military Construction at Bagram Airfield
2008 Christopher Day, P.E. – Master Planning in the AOR
2007 Larry D.Walker, The Louis Berger Group Inc. – Stabilization Reconstruction
Michael J. Roth, P.E., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Overhead Protection
2006 Maj. Phillip L. Landeros, P.E., ANG – Bridging the Tigris
Maj. Jared L. Ware, USA – Geospatial Intelligence and Engineers
2005 Keith Kowadio, P.E., LS3P Associates Ltd. – Time-Saving Lean Design
2004 Col. Christopher J. Toomey, P.E., F.SAME, USA – Building in Contingencies and in Combat
Capt. James S. Duke, E.I.T., USAF – Value-Focused Energy Solutions
2003 Marc S. Caspe, P.E. – Terrorism & Energy Dissipating Systems and Explosion Barriers & Wall Strengthening Systems
Sgt. Robert Woodward, USA – Spanning More than a River
2002 Linda N. Allen, Ret. Col. Douglas D. Gransberg, P.E., Keith R. Molenaar, Ph.D – Partnering D-B Contracts
Diana L. Pletz – Recent Graduates: On the Job”
2001 Larry Woscyna – Kissimmee River Restoration
Lt. Scott Washburn, USCG – Old Light Station Sheds New Light
2000 Dana Finney – Smart Sensors at West Point
Lt. David J. Palazzetti, USCG – Maine Lights Program: Saving by Divestiture
1999 John E. Peters – New in Naples
Lt. John P. Slaughter, USCG – Disasters and the Coast Guard
1998 Lt. Cmdr. John W. Korka, Maj. Daniel J. Worth – Seabees in Bosnia
1997 Capt. Mark L. Gillem – Creating Communities Not Compounds
Maj. Donald F. Archibald, Stephen W. Hughes – Operation Joint Endeavor: Environmental Lessons
1996 Maj. Peter Tabacchi, Dr. Paul F Mlaker, Col. Bruce K. Howard – Restoring Brcko Bridge
Paul Redding – On-Target Remediation
1995 Dr. Mark E. Zappi – Peroxone ‘POPS’ Groundwater
Capt. Micheal Bowen – What’s Wrong with Mitigation Banks?’
1994 Capt. Palmer W. Roberts – Normandy; The Naval Story
Jennifer C. Metts – Environmental Cleanup for Base Closure
1993 Brig. Gen. Ralph V. Locurcio, Col. Frank R. Finch, and Maj. Deborah L. Nykyforchyn – ‘Piercing Winds‘ Hit Hawaii
Mary L. Hughes – Aerospace Composites for Civil Engineers
1992 Gordon S. Crighton – Europe’s Channel Tunnel
Capt. John E. Buse – Engineer Warrior Day
1991 Dr. Benjamin W. Remondi – Artificial Constellation: The Global Positioning System
C. Ernest Edgar, IV – 249th Engineers Storm the Desert
1990 1st Lt. Mark E. Austin – A New Method of Runway Repair
Rear Adm. (Sel) G. Brian Estes – Trident Base East-Completing the Construction Program
1989 Dr. Jacques S. Gansler – Changes in the Defense Engineering/Business Environment for the 1990’s
Lauren Kaslow – The DASE Co-op Program
1988* Graham Turbiville – Soviet Engineers in Afghanistan
Capt. Michael J. Kaleda – Building a Home for the B-l
1987 Dr. Alexander G. Tarics – Earthquake: Are We Ready?
1986 Dr. Paul E. Torgersen – The Health of Engineering Education
1985 George B. Korte, Jr. – CADD’s Impact on NE Firms
1984 Lt. Col. Andrew M. Perkins – Operation URGENT FURY; An Engineer’s View
1983 Dr. Jacques S. Gansler – Industrial Preparedness: National Security in the Nuclear Age
1982 Thomas H. Spencer – The NE’s Role in Mobilization
1981 Dr. Hungdah Chiu – A Rapprochement Between the Two Chinas?
1980 James G. Stanley – Energy for Today and Tomorrow
1979 Dr. Leland R. Johnson –19^th Century Engineering: The Davis Island Lock and Dam (Parts I & II)
1978 Richard P. Howell – Upgrading the Northeast’s Rail Corridor
1977 Harry E. Bovay – Global Resources Outlook
1976 Dr. Leland R. Johnson – Sword, Shovel, and Compass
1975 Brig. Gen. William Whipple,Jr. – Water Supply and Energy Production in the Northeast
1974 Brig. Gen. George A. Lincoln – Energy Security
1973 Dr. Leland R. Johnson – 19^th Century Engineering
1972 Maj. Gen. Richard H. Groves – The AGNES Disaster
1971 Maj. William B. Willard, Jr. –The National Environmental Crisis-An Engineer’s View
1970 Lt. Cmdr. Robert D.Smart – Man in the Sea: An Ocean Engineering Resource
1969 Walter J. Tudor – Antarctic Wharf In the Ice
1968 Lt. Col. Maurice K. Kurtz, Jr. – Nuclear Excavation Research
1967 Brig. Gen. Harry G. Woodbury, Jr. – Shipway between the Oceans
1966 Lt. James C. Thomas – The Computer Story
1965 Kenneth R. Stunkel – A Chronical of Mapping
1964 Alfred R. Golze – Califomia State Water Project
1963 Col. Richard L Clutterbuck – Military Engineering as a Weapon in the Cold War
1962 Brig. Gen. William R. Woodward – Space Logistics from Earth to Mars
1961 Capt. Charles J. Merdinger – Bridges through the Ages
1960 Lt. Cmdr. J.C. LeDoux – Nuclear Power: Promise and Problems
1959 Capt. Fred E Kravath – Nuclear Development in Continental Europe
1958 Lt. Gen. R.A. Wheeler – Clearing the Suez Canal
1957 Cmdr. Charles J. Merdinger – Canals through the Ages
1956 Prof. Frank R. Barnett – Cracking the Thought Barrier
1955 Lt. Gen. Leslie R. Groves – Educating America for the Atomic Age
1954 Brig. Gen. John R. Hardin –The Mississippi-Atchafalaya Diversion Problem
1953 Cmdr. Palmer W. Roberts – Cold Weather Engineering
1952 Cmdr. Charles J. Merdinger – Roads through the Ages and Civil Engineering through the Ages
1951 Lt. Col. Robert R. Ellis – The Confederate Corps of Engineers
1950 Lt. Col. David B. Parker – Engineers in Atomic Offense And Defense
1949 Lt. Col. Stanley W. Dziuban – Artificial Flooding in Military Operations
1948 Dr. Roger Shaw – Adam to Atom
1947 Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, Jr. – Engineer Operations in the Leyte Campaign
1946 Maj. Philip G. Krueger – Three Articles on Operation Crossroads
1945 Maj. Gen. Cecil R. Moore – Engineer Supply in the Continental Invasion
1944 Lt. Col. Walter C. Carey – Soil Engineering Practices for Military Engineers
1943 Maj. Gen. Julian L Schley – Policy of Preparedness
1942 Lt. Col. Shelby A. McMillion – Strategic Route to Alaska
1941 Lt. Col. Paul w: Thompson – Engineers in Battle
1940 Capt. Alfred D. Starbird – Strategic Canals
1939 Col. R.T. Ward – Engineers in the First Army Maneuvers at Plattsburg
1938 Maj. G.A. Roush – Strategic & Critical Minerals
1937 Maj. Elbridge Colby – John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough
1936 Maj. B.T. Reynolds – Italy, Ethiopia, and World Affairs
1935 Verne G. Sanders – Survey Map Control for Los Angeles
1934 Col. W. G. Caples – Transportation
1933 Col. Thomas H. Jackson – Leadership and Organization
1932 Col. E.G. Paules – With the Military Mission to Italy

Honorable Mention

2010 Col. Fred Wenger III, PMP, USMC (Ret.)
2009 Mr. Steven Ashton and Lt Col. Christian Knutson, USAF

* Second medal authorized in 1988 for young members.