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AFIT Hosts Largest Annual Gathering of Air Force Civil Engineers

  • Published
  • By Air Force Institute of Technology
  • Air Force Institute of Technology

AFIT’s Civil Engineer School hosted a CE Summit on 11 – 22 March focused on leadership development and governance over the entire CE Enterprise.  This year, the CE Summit included several high level meetings for CE commanders and MAJCOM staff, the CE Corporate Board meeting, and the CE Functional Advisory Council meeting. 

“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive for this event.  Over 400 civil engineer leaders across the career field - officer, enlisted, and civilians – came together to educate our future CE leaders at the same time conducting the business that governs civil engineering,” said Col Don Ohlemacher, Dean of The Civil Engineer School.

The two week summit featured seven key leader development courses, a Functional Advisory Council meeting, and a CE Board meeting.  One of the courses was focused on developing officers and civilian leaders to be effective CE Commanders and Base Civil Engineers.  Topics included CE doctrine, base comprehensive planning, project management, information technology and analytical tools, base housing, and best practices shared by senior CE officers.

More than 300 students were taught by functional area instructors from the Air Staff, the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, the AF Civil Engineer Center, and other personnel in senior leadership positions including Mr. Terry Edwards, Director of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center and CMSgt Randall Youngblood, Chief of Enlisted Matters and CE Career Field Manager.

Several senior leaders were in attendance for the CE Board meeting including Brig. Gen. John Allen, Director of Civil Engineers, and Mr. Mark Correll, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Environment, Safety and Infrastructure.  “The CE Board governs over key policy decisions across the CE Enterprise, so a big goal of the CE Board this year was making sure everyone understands the strategy and vision for execution, especially the installation investment strategy,” said Ohlemacher.

The Summit also featured a discussion on the state of the CE enterprise with CE legacy leaders including former AF Civil Engineers Maj. Gen. (Ret.) James McCarthy and Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Timothy Byers. This time gave the former top generals and advisors the opportunity to provide feedback, ideas for improvement, and validation of effort.

“We had four decades worth of service in the room at one time. I marveled at the dialogue, exchange and relationship building.  It was a powerful event,” said Ohlemacher.