Dear SAME Jacksonville Post Members and Friends,

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Post President for the 2025–2026 term. I am deeply honored, humbled, and excited to lead alongside a remarkable group of officers and directors who are committed to advancing the mission of the Society of American Military Engineers. To those stepping into new leadership roles—and especially to those continuing their service—thank you for your dedication and example.

I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to Larson Design Group for supporting my involvement in the Post. I’m proud to be part of a company that values professional and community engagement—feel free to ask me more about it!

A special thank you to Mike Ulekowski for joining us at the installation ceremony. Your presence made the event truly meaningful. I also owe a great deal of gratitude to Brad Ezell and Randy Tompkins, who encouraged me to take on the role of Industry Day Chair, setting me on the path to where I am today. Your mentorship continues to mean a great deal.  I also want to thank Brian Murphy, who – when I signed up to be the “PDH guy” – told me “this is how they get you,” and Brian, you were right!

Looking ahead, I want to briefly outline three key goals for our Post in the coming year:

1. Support the SAME Strategic Plan.
Our focus will be on advancing the three pillars: Drive Partnerships, Deliver Solutions, and Develop People. We see this already in action through:
•    The upcoming Tri-Regional JETS (thank you to Marcel Duplantier and Melissa Smith for your leadership),
•    The recently completed STEM Camp (kudos to Brian Files for continuing to serve, even in retirement),
•    And our collaborative engagements on topics like Kings Bay dredging, Caribbean District needs in Puerto Rico, and energy efficiency efforts with JEA—all recent Post luncheon topics.

2. Strengthen our Financial Strategy.
We will explore how best to leverage our endowment—whether through contributions to the SAME Foundation, support for scholarships and STEM programs, and/or enhancements to our IT infrastructure.

3. Grow and Diversify our Membership.
Let’s each make a concerted effort to bring in new and younger members. We have an incredible community, and it’s up to us to nurture the next generation of SAME leaders.
In closing, I’ll leave you with a quote attributed to a tunnel engineering expert:
“A good engineer does not know everything. She knows how to find it out.”
Let’s work together to “find out” how best to achieve our goals and advance our mission as a Post.
Thank you again for your confidence and support. I look forward to working with you all in the months ahead!

Warm regards,
Tom Bestafka
President, SAME Jacksonville Post
2025–2026