José Aguilar, COL, USA, (Ret), F.SAME, Transportation Texas/Mountain federal program manager was recently inducted into the the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Academy of Fellows. The Academy of Fellows recognizes members who have rendered dedicated and outstanding service to the Society, military engineering, and the A/E/C industry.
“It is an honor to be selected as a SAME Fellow,” said Aguilar, who received the honor at SAME’s Joint Engineer Training Conference & Expo (JETC) in May. “I have been fortunate to have mentors who have provided opportunities to expand my engineering knowledge, and teammates – both Solider and civilian – who have worked together to deliver incredible engineering solutions, many in austere environments. I see this investiture as my commitment to continue to serve.”
Aguilar joined SAME in 1989 while a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, and has served in multiple leadership positions and posts, including the president of the Portland SAME Post and the resiliency director of the SAME Houston-Galveston Post. He has also supported several leader development programs, and Engineers Week events, and presented as part of the national SAME Communities of Interest on infrastructure support to military operations.
“José has leveraged his networking and communication talents within the A/E/C industry to grow membership and build excitement for the Society, both while at home and deployed,” said Fabian Mendoza Jr., COL, USA, (RET), senior vice president and field area manager, Texas/Mountain Region. “Through engineering and his military assignments, he has promulgated SAME’s mission and has positively influenced individual and corporate members to join and contribute. I have no doubt he will let his passion for building relationships guide him as a member of the Academy of Fellows.”
Throughout his Army career, Aguilar created and worked alongside strong teams that delivered solutions to military challenges. While in Iraq, he helped develop the infrastructure plan to recruit, train, and station the new Iraqi Army in 2003; provided support to over 6,000 military and family members and coordinated with the local community as Garrison Commander of Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, GA, from 2009-2011; kept the Columbia River operating for waterborne commerce and producing hydropower for the Pacific Northwest as Commander of the Portland District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 2014-2017; improved the infrastructure to support homeland defense and responded to multiple disasters in support of FEMA as Command Engineer of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM) in 2017-2020.
“I was thrilled to see José – my STV colleague and fellow U.S. Army Engineer Soldier – inducted into the Academy of Fellows,” said Senior Vice President and Federal Business Development Director Neal Wright, P.E., PMP, F.SAME, F.ASCE, F.NSPE, Lt. Col. U.S. Army (Ret.), who himself was recognized by SAME at this year’s JETC. “He has made many significant contributions to the defense of our nation and to the advancement of our profession over the course of his distinguished career. He now brings that same positive energy, enthusiasm, and sound judgment to our teams here at STV and to the Academy of Fellows. I am certain that he will continue to make a real difference through his work at STV and through his efforts to mentor and support our next generation of STEM leaders.”