61st CELS Commander Named Federal Engineer of the Year Finalist

  • Published
  • By Alicia Garges
  • SMC Public Affairs
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Klapmeyer, 61st Civil Engineering and Logistics Squadron commander, has been named one of the Top 10 finalists and the Air Force nominee for the National Society of Professional Engineers' Federal Engineer of the Year award. The award will be presented at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., Feb. 21.

The award honors engineers employed by a federal agency that employs 50 or more engineers. The candidates are nominated by their employing agency. From the list of nominees, a NSPE panel of judges selects the winner. The finalists represent a wide range of federal agencies, including Defense, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, NASA and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Lieutenant Colonel Klapmeyer was nominated for his work as the CELS commander and as a doctorate candidate working to improve air quality and emissions. Under his command, Los Angles AFB has undertaken a number of energy saving and green initiatives. For example, the base was selected as the first DoD installation to covert its entire fleet of vehicles to hybrid and electric powered, and Lieutenant Colonel Klapmeyer is overseeing the program's implementation. In addition to his duties overseeing $40 million in annual contracts and commanding a 150-person squadron responsible for operations, maintenance and construction, he leads engineering outreach programs at local schools.

"I am very humbled by the recognition and incredibly fortunate to have been afforded great opportunities working alongside some very talented people," Lieutenant Colonel Klapmeyer said.

A graduate of the University of Florida, he was commissioned in 1996 through the Air Force ROTC program. He has served in a variety of civil engineering positions at the installation and major command levels, and taught at the Air Force Academy.