SAME committees and councils held separate sessions to educate attendees on the latest market trends and best practices while recruiting new members. Lively discussions were held after each session. Commitee and council meetings included Architectural Practice; Environmental; Energy and Sustainability; Facility Asset Management; International Committee; Joint Engineer Contingency Operations; Outreach and Mentoring; Small Business Council; Cyber Infrastructure Security; and TISP Emergency Preparedness and Infrastructure Resilience. Aside from the educational component, another major focus was to attract conference attendees to join and become more invoved as a SAME member.

More sessions were held at the adjacent Hilton Bayfront under the SAME Continuing Education Program. Attendees participated in courses and facilitated workshops focused on topics such as acquiring DOD Architect- Engineer Contracts, teaming strategies for winning Federal Small Business Set Aside contracts and implementing sustainability and energy improvement to facilities. What better way to collect Professional Development Hours than learning from the best industry experts while enjoying spectacular views of the San Diego Bay?

After all the educational sessions, attendees headed to the USS Midway, a maritime museum with 60 exhibits and 29 restored aircrafts, for the Mentoring Event and Ice breaker. Many wore festive aloha shirts as they enjoyed networking and exploring the historic vessel. One of the most popular attractions at the USS Midway was riding the pulse-pounding flight simulators.

See below for a list of information to help you plan for the conference.

Before you leave home:

• Please check the weather and see the dress code on our website so you can fill your suitcase with the proper attire. For the Ice Breaker, jeans are acceptable and we strongly encourage you to bring a jacket as temperatures will likely go down after sunset.
• Bring plenty of business cards, you will be networking a lot!
• We’ve made some schedule updates so please review the schedule here.
• Make a list of the companies you need to visit in the Exhibit Hall so you are sure to get business done.  View the exhibitor list and exhibit hall floor plan here.
• Visit the Attendee Service Center to download and print materials such as the attendee list, pay any balances due, preview/edit your name badge, etc..

What’s new this year?

• Download the 2013 JETC Mobile App! Smartphone owners can now download the 2013 JETC app to their iPhone or Android device at no cost. By using the app, you can have easy access to useful event information such as session times, location and descriptions. Attendees can also find out more about the educational session speakers and view exhibiting companies through the app’s interactive floor plan.
• Visit the new 2013 JETC Professional Photography Studio. Need a professional photo for your company directory, resume or Linked In account?  Come to the Professional Photography Studio in the JETC Exhibit Hall and have your photo taken.  You will receive a complimentary hair and make-up touch up and portrait session in the studio. Select from one of four images to print out and digital copies of your photo will be e-mailed to you free of charge.

Getting Around:

• The San Diego International Airport is located about 3 miles from Downtown San Diego and 10 minutes away from the San Diego Convention Center. Information on public transportation, car rentals, taxis, etc. can be found here.
•  You can obtain a map of Downtown San Diego here.

Don’t forget to..

• Stop by the SAME Booth in the exhibit hall to meet SAME HQ staff, become a member or update your membership information, and learn about how you can be more involved in SAME.

We look forward to seeing you next week!

Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick will be in attendance at the 2013 JETC Meet the Chiefs.

Want to meet the Engineering Service Chiefs? Be sure to include the Meet the Chiefs session to your itinerary when attending the 2013 JETC. The Chiefs will hold a panel to discuss current and future organization and programs. They will provide insider information including organizational shifts in how they do business. In light of the uncertainty of military budgets, this is a “must attend” session! Meet the Chiefs is to be held Thursday, May 23, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, Calif. Mark your calendar for this great opportunity!

The following Engineering Service Chiefs will be in attendance:

• Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, P.E., USA, U.S. Army Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of USACE
• Maj. Gen. Timothy A. Byers, USAF, The Civil Engineer, HQ U.S. Air Force
• Rear Adm. Katherine L. Gregory, P.E., CEC, USN, Commander, NAVFAC, and Chief of Civil Engineers

Click here to register now.

On May 6, 2013, Cadet Fourth Class Justin Katzovitz, USAFA, gave feedback regarding his experience as a previous SAME camper in an open letter to SAME Pikes Peak Post Elected Director Capt. Charles D. Comfort, P.E., USAFA. See what Cadet Katzovitz has to say about SAME Camp below:

Learn more about SAME Engineering & Construction Camps by going to samecamps.org.

Photos courtesy of Lt. Col. Scott Prosuch, F.SAME, USA (Ret.)

Guests are asked to get in the Aloha spirit and to wear their best Hawaiian shirt for the event. Enjoy complimentary food and drinks as you explore more than 60 exhibits and tour 25 restored aircrafts at the USS Midway in downtown San Diego. According to the San Diego Entertainer Magazine, the USS Midway Museum is the most visited floating ship museum in the world! Do not miss this exclusive event!

This event is only open to Young Members, NCOs, Fellows and invited guests who are registered to attend JETC. Click here to register now.

The evening begins with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner with entertainment and dancing. Speakers will include Gita Murthy, Ph.D., RORE Inc., 2013 JETC Co-Chair, San Diego Post; and Rear Adm. Gary A. Engle, P.E., DBIA, F.SAME, USN (Ret.), SAME President 2013-2014. Ron Hilton, P.E., F.SAME, Civil Services Inc., 2014 JETC Chair, Jacksonville Post, will provide remarks about the upcoming JETC in 2014.

Click here to register now.

The 2013 Joint Engineer Training Conference & Expo (JETC) is almost here! The conference is packed with educational sessions, workshops, tours and meetings that will surely fill your schedule and professional development hour (PDH) sheets. But as you plan your individual itineraries during the conference, we’d like to remind you to take advantage of our exciting networking events. Not only is networking an effective tool in building and maintaining professional relationships for leads and sales, these events also give you the chance to wind down and make the most of your visit in San Diego!

Don’t miss out on these fun, networking events and activities:

Young Member, NCO and Fellows Event
Tuesday, May 21
6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
USS Midway/Hangar Deck
If you are a Young Member, NCO or Fellow, please join us for this  event. To be held at the USS Midway, guests can explore more than 60 exhibits and tour 25 restored aircrafts. This event is only open to Young Members, NCOs, Fellows and invited guests who are registered to attend JETC.

Ice Breaker
Tuesday, May 21
7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
USS Midway
The Ice Breaker reception is a great way to kick-off your JETC experience as well as meet existing and potential business partners! This premier networking event will be held at the exciting USS Midway, one of America’s longest-serving aircraft carriers.

5K Run
Wednesday, May 22
6:00 a.m.-7:15 a.m.
Enjoy a run along the beautiful San Diego Harbor! The route is relatively flat, allowing runners to traverse through the Embarcadero Park and the San Diego Harbor with ease. Sights to behold include views of Seaport Village and sunrise at the Pacific Ocean. This is a great way to stay on top of your fitness goals and meet other runners.

Honors Luncheon
Wednesday, May 22
12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Take part in the Honors Luncheon and show your support for individuals who have shown impeccable dedication and contribution to the engineering profession. Watch as the five Engineering Service Chiefs and the U.S. Marine Corps honor the 2013 SAME award and medal recipients.

Post Awards Breakfast, Annual Business Meeting & Installation of New SAME President
Thursday, May 23
7:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
Robert D. “Bob” Wolff, Ph.D., P.E., F.SAME, SAME Executive Director, will present the Annual SAME Business Meeting and installation of the incoming SAME President. SAME President Anthony F. “Tony” Leketa, P.E., SES (Ret.), Parsons, will deliver Post Streamer Awards for outstanding Post achievements.  Show your support and meet the Post Leaders who help further the SAME Mission.

Society Ball Reception & Dinner
Thursday, May 23
6:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m.
Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Conclude the 2013 JETC in elegance! The evening begins with a cocktail reception, followed by a sit-down, plated dinner with entertainment and dancing. SAME President Anthony Leketa, P.E., F.SAME, Parsons, will address approximately 800 people in an upscale, formal setting. If you want to see your SAME leaders at their best, you will want to attend this event.

Winkler is one of the world’s most influential security professionals and has authored several cyber security books such as Spies Among Us, Zen and the Art of Information Security, Corporate Espionage and the best-seller, Through the Eyes of the Enemy.

Do not miss Winkler’s sensational address! The 2013 JETC Opening Session will also include presentations from SAME President Anthony F. “Tony” Leketa, P.E., F.SAME, SES (Ret.); Rear Adm. Sven Rodenbeck, P.E., BCEE, USPHS; and Conference Program Chair Col. Stuart Bornhoft, P.E., PMP, USA (Ret.), Sullivan International Group.

The Opening Session will give an overview of the 2013 JETC technical program and provide important messages about the conference. Click here to register now!

Congratulations to the 188th Engineer Company for winning both the 2012 Itschner and Sturgis awards!

The Itschner Award recognizes the most outstanding U.S. Army engineering company during the year and is named in honor of Army Lt. Gen. Emerson C. Itschner, the 39th chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Sturgis Medal, named in honor of Lt. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, Jr., U.S. Army, recognizes outstanding contributions to military troop construction and/or base maintenance by demonstrated technical and leadership ability.

2013 JETC CEP Courses and Workshops
May 21, 2013
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Hilton San Diego Bayfront
1 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA

Attendees can choose from four educational sessions, each worth 6.5 to 8 Professional Development Hours (PDHs). The courses are geared towards architects and engineers, small business owners and contracting professionals working with the Department of Defense (DOD) and other federal agencies. Click here to see a short brief on the CEP sessions

Registration is separate from the conference. Click here for more details.