March 2021
In this issue…
In Memory of Colonel (USA, Ret.) Donald R. Swygert, PE
Virginia Gas Pipeline Regulations – State Corporation Commission (SCC) Hearing
VSPE Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) submitted to NSPE
FAA safety engineer goes public to slam the agency’s oversight of Boeing’s 737 MAX
Wanted: 2021 NSPE Emerging Leaders
Ethics Webinars for PEs and Those on the Licensure Path
In Memory of Colonel (USA, Ret.) Donald R. Swygert, PE
VSPE lost a good friend last May. I recently became aware of Don’s passing by way of a donation to the VSPE Educational Fund through Judy Powell. Judy’s husband, Ray, served as past president of VSPE. All three (3) were my very good friends that volunteered for Mathcounts competitions. Don’s wife, Betty, is the great love of his life, and he has four wonderful children. Steve and Susan joined Don, Ray and Judy to volunteer for Mathcounts, and I spoke to Donnie when Don was hospitalized last March. Don was a life member of VSPE, his membership tenure began in 1980. From Judy’s tribute to Don: “I last saw Don at Ray’s funeral in June 2019 in Woodstock, VA, Ray held great respect for your dad. They enjoyed each others company and had much in common as comrades in the Army Corp of Engineers, Vietnam veterans, professional engineers, MathCounts committeemen and friends.” From his wife Betty’s memorial: “The 1954 yearbook summed-up Betty this way, “…we always feel that she is going somewhere, and we have no doubt that it will be far.” While teaching at Savannah High School, Betty met then-First Lieutenant Donald R. Swygert, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officer who was stationed with the Corps’ Savannah District. They were introduced by Betty’s uncle who was an attorney with the District. They were subsequently married at then-Hunter Air Force Base in Savannah. Betty and Don first lived at Fort Benning, GA; then College Station, TX; Fort Belvoir, VA; Verdun, France; Troy, NY; West Point, NY; Mokuleia, HI; Quantico Marine Base, VA; New Cumberland Army Depot, PA; Carlisle, PA; and Alexandria, VA.” I am so privileged to have known him.
Virginia Gas Pipeline Regulations – State Corporation Commission (SCC) Hearing
The Gas Utility companies issued a Joint Comment letter to the SCC requesting a hearing to eliminate five (5) of the proposed ten (10) new regulations to ensure public safety for gas pipeline installations. If their request is granted, the regulations are so watered down as to be meaningless. The most appalling request is to rely on the permit review process of VDOT to ensure safety of gas pipeline installations installed within the public right of way. To paraphrase their letter, they consider the VDOT permit technician’s review to equate to the public safety benefit that a PE seal would provide, thereby replacing a PE in responsible charge for the project. We have advised VDOT Commissioner Stephen C. Brich, PE of this assertion. Our President, Rick Tyler, will be speaking on our behalf when this hearing is scheduled. Mike LoPresti and Jerry Davis, both of our Board of Directors, will be speaking as individuals. We wanted you to know of this important advocacy effort.
VSPE Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) submitted to NSPE
The VSPE Board worked on a strategic plan to identify our Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s). This is our report card if you will. We are very proud of two (2) Key Focus Areas: Advocacy and Budget Management. However, we recognize the need to improve our Member Engagement efforts. NSPE has helped guide us toward improvement by introducing us to the Membership Director for the North Carolina Chapter, PENC. We are striving to improve in these areas over the next couple of months:
- Chapter meetings: we have three (3) chapters – Northern Virginia, Tidewater and Lynchburg. Our idea is for everyone to be assigned by region to one (1) of these three (3) chapters. We have almost 500 members, and everyone will be identified with either of these three (3) chapters.
- Webinars of a meaningful and technical nature to enhance your membership experience
- Robust social media that is well managed
- Regional and statewide conferences
Look for more as we move forward on your behalf. Most importantly, thank all of you for your membership and the hard work you do.
Stay up to date on legislative issues through the NSPE Advocacy Center.
FAA safety engineer goes public to slam the agency’s oversight of Boeing’s 737 MAX
Haunted by the two deadly crashes of Boeing 737 MAX jets and his agency’s role in approving the plane, veteran Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety engineer Joe Jacobsen is stepping forward publicly to give the victims’ families “a firsthand account of what the truth is.” In a detailed letter sent last month to a family that lost their daughter in the second MAX crash in Ethiopia two years ago this week, and in interviews with The Seattle Times, Jacobsen gave the first personal account by an insider of the federal safety agency’s response to the MAX crashes. Jacobsen should have been among the FAA specialists who reviewed the MAX’s critical new flight control software during its original certification, which was largely controlled by Boeing. He’s confident that he and other FAA engineers would have flagged its serious design flaws.
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Wanted: 2021 NSPE Emerging Leaders
NSPE is fostering a new generation of engineers who can think strategically, build effective teams, and lead successfully through its Emerging Leaders Program. This intensive seven-month, professionally facilitated, virtual program is now accepting applications until May 31.
Early-career professionals with 5-8 years of experience who are just beginning to lead and think strategically in the profession are encouraged to apply. The program graduated its first class of diverse, super achieving professionals in February.
Between August 2021 and February 2022 participants will learn how to be successful at higher levels of leadership responsibility. Participants will engage in 90-minute leadership training sessions each month with learning discussions and mentoring on topics such as ownership, team development, communication skills, giving/receiving feedback, and presentation skills. There will also be ample networking opportunities with peers and national NSPE national leaders.
Ethics Webinars for PEs and Those on the Licensure Path
Don’t miss NSPE’s upcoming ethics webinars on truthfulness and fidelity to employers and clients, with insight from Rebecca Bowman, P.E., Esq., NSPE’s senior director for ethics and professional practice and NAFE executive director, and other NSPE ethics experts.
April 7
Engineering Ethics–Canon III–Truthfulness
Learn from a variety of situations in which circumstances can tempt (and even encourage) engineers to dance around the edges of Canon III.
Presenters: Hugh Veit, P.E., Susan Sprague, P.E., F.NSPE, and Rebecca Bowman, P.E., Esq.
May 5
Engineering Ethics–Canon IV–Fidelity to Employers/Clients
Examine the duties to employers and clients, and circumstances under which those duties can be pre-empted by higher duties, especially to the public health, safety, and welfare.
Presenters: David Kish, Ph.D., P.E., Jeff Greenfield, Ph.D., P.E., F.NSPE, and Rebecca Bowman, P.E., Esq.