 Military News
Elizabeth Burg, an Army civilian who volunteered to deploy to Iraq, was selected for the award from among 22 engineer nominees by the panel at USACE headquarters in Washington, D.C. The panel's selection criteria includes reviewing an engineer's pursuit of professional registration, engineering achievements, professional and technical society activities and the nominee's community/humanitarian support of activities outside of the workplace. Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, USACE commander, stressed the accomplishments that led to Burg's selection, referencing her work on coastal hydraulic models and physical structures and how they are "helping to ensure the safety and welfare of the nation's people, commerce, and natural resources." Van Antwerp commended her design of water systems for a women's ministry complex in Uganda and volunteer work supporting engineering, math, and science education, which are helping build communities and the engineering profession. The ‘New Faces' program provides a national forum to both single out the contributions of new civilian and military engineers and promote the opportunities for prospective engineers considering a career with USACE. According to Burg, the award serves as a validation to her work as an engineer. "I feel very honored to have been recognized for this award; it's nice to know that my peers and superiors think I'm doing a good job. My work in Iraq has been very rewarding. Knowing that I am part of something that is positively influencing the future of a nation is pretty incredible. Back home I do research, so hands on construction is something totally different than what I normally do - but I love it. All fields of engineering offer the opportunity to help people and create great change in a very tangible way. It's a very hands-on way to leave your mark and create something to be proud of." Current projects for Burg in Iraq include a number of Military Construction Projects (MILCON), construction of two Iraqi police stations and the Pipeline Exclusion Zone project. Co-workers and her immediate supervisors in Balad have no doubt the panel made the right decision on selecting Burg for the award. "Liz is not afraid to bring up tough questions with the contractors and put herself on the spot when she feels it's the right thing to do," said construction representative Susan Fox. Air Force Major Brad Bugg, the Balad construction management officer-in- charge, says, "Elizabeth Burg has excelled as a project engineer on time sensitive construction projects, having a direct impact on the Air Force's ability to launch and recover aircraft on the Defense Department's busiest airfield. Her leadership has been critical in exceeding contract completion milestones." Peter Gauer, the resident engineer in Balad, says Burg, possesses a "meticulous attention to detail, an eagerness to learn and willingness to ask questions when she is not sure how to proceed. Once she is shown how to do something or corrected on how to do it properly, no further assistance is required." Gauer refers to Burg as a "self starter in the highest sense," and says she's "awesome." Frank Scopa, area engineer for the Balad office says it is difficult to believe that Burg has only been out of college for three years. "Her poise, demeanor and abilities far exceed what her apparent experience level ought to be," he said. "Her contribution as a full member of the project delivery team belies her relatively short period of time in the construction field. We have come to expect excellent performance from Elizabeth and she is delivering." A self -admitted "Air Force brat", Burg graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. She currently attends Mississippi State University, working toward her master's degree in Civil Engineering. Burg started her career with the Army Corps of Engineers as a Co-Op student in the Omaha District. After graduation she joined the Engineering Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulics Lab, in Vicksburg, Miss., where she does physical modeling. She volunteered to deploy, and has been working in the Balad office as a project engineer since November 2008. The USACE competition coincides with the "New Faces in Engineering" program initiated yearly by the Engineers Week Foundation (EWEEK), a professional engineering society. In addition to the Corps' honors, the five selectees will also be recognized by EWEEK and featured on the organization's web page www.eweek.org. The New Faces program was initiated by EWEEK to promote the field of engineering to high school and college students. The program "strives to promote the accomplishments of young engineers by highlighting their contributions and the resulting impact on society…to better enhance and improve the image of engineers," according to the program's criteria. |
