2020 ENGINEER PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY ......2020 Engineer Professional Advisory Committee Page 6 of 19 2020 EPAC Members (Quick Reference Guide) Chief Engineer Term Name Rank Agency

2020 ENGINEER PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY

COMMITTEE (EPAC) EPAC Calendar, Initiatives and Member Directory

2020 Engineer Professional Advisory Committee

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Table of Contents 2020 EPAC Calendar ................................................................................................................................................................ 2

2020 EPAC Initiatives .............................................................................................................................................................. 3

2020 EPAC Members (Quick Reference Guide) ...................................................................................................................... 6

Chief Professional Officer (CPO) ............................................................................................................................................. 7

RADM Edward Dieser, Chief Engineer ................................................................................................................................ 7

Directory of Voting Members/Subcommittee Leadership ..................................................................................................... 7

CDR Samantha Spindel, EPAC Chair .................................................................................................................................... 7

Awards Subcommittee ........................................................................................................................................................ 8

CDR John Kathol, Chair .................................................................................................................................................... 8

CDR Matthew Mergenthaler, Vice Chair ......................................................................................................................... 8

Career Development Subcommittee .................................................................................................................................. 9

LCDR Omobogie Amadasu, Chair .................................................................................................................................... 9

CDR Eric Hanssen, Vice Chair .......................................................................................................................................... 9

Events Subcommittee ....................................................................................................................................................... 10

LCDR Derrick Buck, Chair ............................................................................................................................................... 10

LCDR Michael Gifford, Vice Chair .................................................................................................................................. 10

Information Subcommittee............................................................................................................................................... 11

CAPT Josh Simms, Chair ................................................................................................................................................ 11

LCDR Garrett Chun, Vice Chair ...................................................................................................................................... 11

Public Health Engineering Practice Subcommittee ........................................................................................................... 12

CDR Leo Gumapas, Chair ............................................................................................................................................... 12

CDR James Coburn, Vice Chair ...................................................................................................................................... 12

Readiness Subcommittee .................................................................................................................................................. 13

CDR Frank Chua, Chair .................................................................................................................................................. 13

CDR Sean Bush, Vice Chair ............................................................................................................................................ 13

Recruitment and Retention Subcommittee ...................................................................................................................... 14

LCDR Praveen KC, Chair ................................................................................................................................................. 14

LCDR Fred Kelly, Vice Chair ........................................................................................................................................... 14

Rules Subcommittee ......................................................................................................................................................... 15

CDR Deborah Cox, Chair ................................................................................................................................................ 15

LCDR Matt Palo, Vice Chair ........................................................................................................................................... 15

Strategic Planning for Engineering .................................................................................................................................... 16

CAPT David Harvey, Chair ............................................................................................................................................. 16

CDR Sam Russell, Vice Chair .......................................................................................................................................... 16


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Directory of Liaisons and Other Ex-Officio Volunteers ......................................................................................................... 17

LCDR Michael Simpson, EPAC Executive Secretary ............................................................................................................ 17

CDR Nikhil Thakur, Commissioned Officers Association (COA) Liaison ............................................................................ 17

CAPT Varsha Savalia, Commissioned Corps Women’s Issues Advisory Board (CCWIAB) Liaison ..................................... 18

LT Colin Tack, Junior Officer Advisory Group (JOAG) Liaison ............................................................................................ 18

CDR Steve Sauer, Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Liaison ....................................................................... 19

2020 EPAC Calendar Date Event

Thursday, January 9 EPAC General Meeting

Thursday, February 13 E-week Awards Ceremony, FDA White Oak Building 75, Silver Spring, Maryland

Thursday, February 20 EPAC General Meeting

Thursday, March 19 EPAC General Meeting

Thursday, April 9 EPAC General Meeting

Thursday, May 14 EPAC General Meeting

Wednesday May 27 – Friday, May 29

Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Joint Engineer Training Conference (JETC) Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

Thursday, June 11 EPAC General Meeting

Monday, June 15 – Thursday, June 18

COA USPHS Scientific & Training Symposium Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel, Glendale, Arizona

Thursday, July 9 EPAC General Meeting

Thursday, August 13 EPAC General Meeting

Thursday, September 10 EPAC General Meeting

Thursday, October 8 EPAC General Meeting

Thursday, November 12 EPAC General Meeting

Sunday, December 6 – Thursday, December 10

AMSUS Annual Meeting Gaylord National Resort & Conference Center, National Harbor, Maryland

Thursday, December 10 EPAC General Meeting


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2020 EPAC Initiatives EPAC Chair and Chair-Elect Chair: CDR Samantha Spindel, [email protected] [email protected] Chair-Elect: CDR Deborah Cox, [email protected]

• Engage Officers: Utilize the Commissioned Corps Engineer list serve to communicate EPAC’s latest developments, offer more opportunities for engineers to share their thoughts and to ask questions, such as during town hall meetings with our CPO

• Develop Leaders: Pair an officer experienced in a subcommittee to serve as a co-lead with a novice officer, mentor and support officers to take on new opportunities so they gain experience

• Partner with OSG-chartered groups: Share and apply best practices for recognizing officers and maintaining readiness so Engineers are ready to deploy when needed

• Assist subcommittees as necessary to maintain productivity Awards Subcommittee Chair: CDR John Kathol, [email protected] Vice Chair: CDR Matthew Mergenthaler, [email protected]

• Awards Review Board: coordinate communication, review award nominations, and recommend awardees • Awards Subcommittee Strategic Initiatives: Examine changes to award nominations, update rubrics, and

create review team criteria • Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): Create SOP outlining operations and coordination with all stakeholders • Awards Communication Coordinator: Update website, communicate with stakeholders to encourage award

nominations and tracking, develop tools to assist in increasing quality and number of nominations Career Development Subcommittee Chair: LCDR Omobogie Amadasu, [email protected] Vice Chair: CDR Eric Hanssen, [email protected]

• Manage mentoring program and events • Revise EPAC webpages • Disseminate Licensure Fact Sheet

o Develop a fact sheet regarding alternate certifications/registrations for biomedical engineers • Create a database of online engineering advanced degree programs • Develop a list of degrees that add value to the engineering category • Identify recommended reference books to aid in studying for various certification exams • Assemble a list of agency-specific trainings • Represent category at Officer Basic Course

Events Subcommittee Chair: LCDR Derrick Buck, [email protected] Vice Chair: LCDR Michael Gifford, [email protected]

• February 13: Engineer Awards Ceremony • February 14: NSPE Luncheon • May 27-29: SAME JETC Conference • June 15-18: USPHS Scientific & Training Symposium • Nov 29 – Dec 2: AMSUS Annual Meeting • Work on Standard Operating Procedure

mailto:[email protected]










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Information Subcommittee Chair: CAPT Joshua Simms, [email protected] Vice Chair: LCDR Garrett Chun, [email protected]

• Maintain the EPAC Website (https://dcp.psc.gov/osg/engineer/) to ensure content is accurate, current, and relevant to a public audience. Reorganize website for ease of use

• Develop, publish, and distribute the EPAC Newsletter • Respond to requests sent to: “Contact Us” website form, Anonymous Feedback website form, and epac-

[email protected] • Establish accounts for EPAC members on platform for official repository to house subcommittee materials

Public Health Engineering Practice Subcommittee Chair: CDR Leo Gumapas, [email protected] Vice Chair: CDR James Coburn, [email protected]

• Identity one or more projects that align with the Surgeon General’s Priorities (https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/index.html) to show how USPHS Engineers’ involvement can have a direct impact on the future health and safety of the nation

• Increase access to reference materials for a variety of engineering office sizes, enable engineering references to be accessible through portable electronics

• Define core competencies among various roles within agencies where USPHS Commissioned Corps Engineers work

• Draft articles in The Military Engineer (TME)

o Highlight successful installations at the National Park Service re implementation options for small scale, package wastewater treatment plants that are applicable in different environments

o Discuss efforts to leverage 3-D printing to produce cost-effective naloxone training kits • Draft articles for EPAC newsletter

o Expand upon initial article in TME about minimizing global warning impacts through effective pipe

material selection for water/waste water construction products

o Collect information on how lead and other drinking water contaminants impact communities and how they are being addressed

Recruitment and Retention Subcommittee Chair: LCDR Praveen KC, [email protected] Vice Chair: LCDR Fred Kelly, [email protected]

• EPAC Connectors: Compile reports tracking Candidates’ progress and experiences through the Commissioned Corp appointment process

• Respond to pre-application inquiries • Recruitment materials – review and update • Identify and communicate agency recruiting contacts. Work with other agencies to help tailor recruiting

activities to different agencies • Continue to maintain and update Engineer Vacancy List

Readiness Subcommittee Chair: CDR Frank Chua, [email protected] Vice Chair: CDR Sean Bush, [email protected]

• Develop information sheets for engineer deployment roles on Tier I, II, and III teams • Increase category readiness by identifying root cause and provide recommendations to address issue • Develop the engineer training curriculum (technical and non-technical) • Organize and manage EPAC webpages, e.g., capture short stories/reflections and photos from engineer

deployments



https://dcp.psc.gov/osg/engineer/










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Rules Subcommittee Chair: CDR Deborah Cox, [email protected] Vice Chair: LCDR Matt Palo, [email protected]

• Resolve EPAC Bylaws update recommendations from Dec 2019 EPAC meeting o Voting Member Selection o Guidelines for alternates

• Liaison positions SOP Updates o Work with Subcommittees to finalize SOPs

• Certificate of Participation template Strategic Planning for Engineering Subcommittee Chair: CAPT David Harvey, [email protected] Vice Chair: CDR Sam Russell, [email protected]

• Develop category-specific strategic plan






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2020 EPAC Members (Quick Reference Guide)

Chief Engineer

Term Name Rank Agency EPAC Role Location

2018-2021 Dieser, Edward RADM CDC Ex-Officio Atlanta, GA

EPAC Voting Members

Term Name Rank Agency EPAC Role Location

2018-2020 Simms, Joshua CAPT FDA Information, Chair Silver Spring, MD

2018-2020 Grant, Teresa CDR CDC Special Projects Atlanta, GA

2018-2020 Gumapas, Leo CDR NIH Public Health Engineering Practice, Chair Bethesda, MD

2018-2020 Spindel, Samantha CDR FDA EPAC Chair Beltsville, MD

2018-2020 Buck, Derrick LCDR IHS Events, Chair Tempe, AZ

2018-2020 Palo, Matthew LCDR CDC Rules, Vice Chair Jamaica, NY

2019-2021 Harvey, David CAPT IHS Strategic Planning for Engineering, Chair Rockville, MD

2019-2021 Bush, Sean CDR IHS Readiness, Vice Chair Escondido, CA

2019-2021 Cox, Deborah CDR EPA Rules, Chair Atlanta, GA

2019-2021 Hanssen, Eric CDR NIH Career Development, Vice Chair Hamilton, MT

2019-2021 Russell, Sam CDR EPA Strategic Planning for Engineering, Vice Chair Washington, DC

2019-2021 Amadasu, Omobogie LCDR IHS Career Development, Chair Rockville, MD

2019-2021 Praveen, KC LCDR EPA Recruitment and Retention, Chair Washington, DC

2020-2022 Coburn, James CDR FDA Public Health Engineering Practice, Vice Chair Silver Spring, MD

2020-2022 Chua, Frank CDR IHS Readiness, Chair Sacramento, CA

2020-2022 Kathol, John CDR IHS Awards, Chair Tempe, AZ

2020-2022 Mergenthaler, Matthew CDR IHS Awards, Vice Chair Sacramento, CA

2020-2022 Chun, Garrett LCDR NPS Information, Vice Chair El Portal, CA

2020-2022 Gifford, Michael LCDR NPS Events, Vice Chair Washington, DC

2020-2022 Kelly, Fred LCDR NIH Recruitment and Retention, Vice Chair Bethesda, MD

Ex-Officio Volunteers

2020 Simpson, Michael LCDR FDA Executive Secretary Silver Spring, MD

2019-2020 Thakur, Nikhil CDR FDA COA Liaison Silver Spring, MD

2018-2020 Savalia, Varsha CAPT FDA CCWIAB Liaison San Antonio, TX

2019-2020 Tack, Colin LT FDA JOAG Liaison Jamaica, NY

2019-2021 Sauer, Steve CDR IHS SAME Liaison Spokane, WA

*Clicking on the Voting Member name will open their email address




























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Chief Professional Officer (CPO) RADM Edward Dieser, Chief Engineer RADM Edward M. Dieser became the 14th Chief Engineer Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) on January 1, 2018. As the Chief Engineer, RADM Dieser advises the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on policy, resourcing, staffing, and leading professional affairs for engineers and architects working in the HHS and serving in its Commissioned Corps. He will also be responsible for advising the Office of the Surgeon General on the recruitment, retention, training, readiness, deployment, and career management of the Corps. RADM Dieser began his Commissioned Corps career in 2005 as a Lieutenant Commander with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the Emergency Preparedness and Response Office. His next assignment with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) included service as CDC’s Environmental Manager, Environmental Protection and Radiation Safety Team Lead, and Environmental Management System Developer. His most recent role was the Deputy Associate Director for Emergency Management, National Center for Environmental Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. RADM Dieser is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with a Master’s of Science in Environmental Engineering and the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He is a life member of the Society of American Military Engineers, the Interagency Institute of Federal Healthcare Executives, and is a licensed professional engineer (North Carolina). RADM Dieser draws inspiration and support from his wife of 20 years, Avril, and their two teenage children, Edward and Adèlé.

Directory of Voting Members/Subcommittee Leadership CDR Samantha Spindel, EPAC Chair Term: 2018-2020 Alternate: LCDR Michael Simpson CDR Spindel graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological & Environmental Engineering and a Masters of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering. She also received her Ph.D. in Bioengineering at the University of Maryland. CDR Spindel was commissioned as an Engineer in October 2009 at the Food and Drug Administration in Maryland and has experience working in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health in three Offices: Compliance and Enforcement, Science and Engineering Laboratories, and Communication and Education. In 2016, she became a supervisor at the Center for Tobacco Products, where she makes recommendations regarding market entry of tobacco products, oversees research projects, and contributes to rulemaking and knowledge development efforts pertaining to cigars, e-cigarettes, and other nicotine-containing consumer products. CDR Spindel served as the Chair of the Junior Officer Advisory Committee from 2015-2017 and as the EPAC Executive Secretary in 2015. She served as the EPAC Career Development Subcommittee Vice Chair in 2018 and as the Rules Subcommittee Chair in 2019. CDR Spindel serves on a Tier I Deployment Team and has deployed for numerous events and hurricanes. CDR Spindel and her husband, Justin, enjoy traveling and cooking together.


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Awards Subcommittee

CDR John Kathol, Chair Term: 2020-2022 Alternate: CDR Michael Termont CDR Kathol graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering from South Dakota State University in 2001 and a Master’s Degree in Engineering from South Dakota State University in 2003. CDR Kathol retains his professional engineering license in the State of Washington. CDR Kathol began his career with the Indian Health Service in 2000 as a COSTEP in Mobridge, SD for the Aberdeen Area Indian Health Service. In 2003 he came on board full-time as a Junior Field Engineer in Sioux City, IA. After his stint in Iowa he transferred to Manlius, NY in 2007 to serve as Sr. Field Engineer before moving on to the position of Deputy District Engineer in Casa Grande, AZ for the Tucson Area Indian Health Service in 2013. In 2017, CDR Kathol accepted his current position as District Engineer in Tempe, AZ for the Phoenix Area Indian Health Service where he manages the sanitation facility construction program of the Western Arizona District. As District Engineer he manages two remote field offices, 9 engineering and technical staff, and approximately 70 projects worth nearly $22 million that serve 13 Tribes. His experience includes approximately 16 years of design and construction management of sanitation facilities for Native American communities in the Aberdeen Area, Nashville Area, Tucson Area and Phoenix Area Indian Health Service. CDR Kathol has been involved in the planning, design and construction management of individual water and wastewater systems, sewage collection systems, lift stations and force mains, wastewater treatment lagoons, solid waste transfer stations, water treatment plants, pump houses and water distribution systems. CDR Kathol has been active in Corps activities over his entire career. He has been an active member of the Associate Recruiter Program, JOAG, EPAC Events, Rules and Awards Subcommittees in addition to serving as an EPAC Voting Member since 2017. CDR Kathol is married to his wife Mary, and they have four children together-Emma, Brayden, Mason and Amelia.

CDR Matthew Mergenthaler, Vice Chair Term: 2020-2022 Alternate: LCDR Travis Sorum CDR Matt Mergenthaler is an Engineer Consultant with the Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction, Indian Health Service (IHS), California Area. He is responsible for providing project management oversight for planning, design and construction for Tribal Sanitation Facilities Projects in the Sacramento District. He served as a COSTEP with Indian Health Service in 2006 and 2007. CDR Mergenthaler graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering and from Norwich University with a Masters of Civil Engineering. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Washington. Prior to joining the USPHS, CDR Mergenthaler worked as a Transportation Engineer for the Washington Department of Transportation. CDR Mergenthaler was commissioned as an Engineer in February 2009 at the Indian Health Service. For the first eight years of his career, he served as an Environmental Engineer/Engineer Consultant in the Clovis Field Office. CDR Mergenthaler served as Co-lead of two subcommittees in Recruitment and Retention Committee, Junior Officer Advisory Group from (2012-13 and 2015-17). He was also the SOP team lead for the EPAC Awards Subcommittee from 2018-2019. CDR Mergenthaler joined Applied Public Health Team 5 in 2013. He has deployed to Texas for the Unaccompanied Children Mission and to Puerto Rico for the Hurricane Maria Recovery efforts. He loves spending time with his family and playing basketball whenever he has time.


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Career Development Subcommittee

LCDR Omobogie Amadasu, Chair Term: 2019-2021 Alternate: LCDR Joshua Sims LCDR Amadasu graduated from Clarkson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters of Engineering in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida. LCDR Amadasu commissioned as an Engineer in August 2008 at the Indian Health Service in Kayenta, AZ. Including his time as a JRCOSTEP he served in 5 different IHS Areas and spent time as Design/Project Engineer and a Utility consultant. In 2018, he started his position as a General Engineer located at IHS Headquarters in Rockville MD. He is responsible for the planning and construction of new health care facilities and managing funding programs that give Tribes access to funding to improve their health care facilities.

CDR Eric Hanssen, Vice Chair Term: 2019-2021 Alternate: CDR Leo Gumapas CDR Eric Hanssen is the Facilities Management Branch Chief for Rocky Mountain Laboratories, a campus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Hamilton, Montana. In this role, he leads a 33-person team of professionals and is responsible for campus-wide facility operations, safety and compliance, as well as $115 Million in active and planned construction at one of our nation’s premier Biosafety Level 4 pathogen research centers. Prior to joining NIH, CDR Hanssen served with the Indian Health Service in Alaska as Rural Energy Program Manager for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), where he oversaw development, design and construction of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for more than 100 remote Alaskan villages. While at ANTHC, he also held positions as Senior Health Facilities Engineer and as Sanitation Facilities Project Manager. Prior to joining the Commissioned Corps in 2007, CDR Hanssen served seven years as a Civil Engineer Officer for the U.S. Air Force in Alaska, Washington D.C., Florida, and on two combat tours in Iraq. CDR Hanssen graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and received a Masters of Public Management from the University of Maryland, College Park. CDR Hanssen has served EPAC in a variety of roles throughout his PHS career as a volunteer for the Career Development, Awards, Events and Mentoring Subcommittees, and he led initiatives on the Rules and Career Development Subcommittees as an EPAC Member in 2019. He enjoys all things outdoors, especially hiking and skiing with his wife, Liz, and their three sons.


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Events Subcommittee

LCDR Derrick Buck, Chair Term: 2018-2020 Alternate: LT Timothy Martin LCDR Buck graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering. LCDR Buck was commissioned as an Engineer in January 2015 at the Indian Health Service in Gallup, NM and has experience working with biomedical equipment at the Gallup Indian Medical Center. In 2016, he transitioned from biomedical engineering to civil/environmental engineering with the Indian Health Service located in Tempe, AZ. Here, he collaborates with federal, state, tribal officials, and communities for the planning, design, construction, and project management related to water, sewer, and solid waste facilities to serve American Indian and Alaska Natives. LCDR Buck served as the Membership Subcommittee Liaison of the Junior Officer Advisory Group for FY2016. He served as the Commissioned Officers Association Secretary at the Navajo Chapter from 2016 – 2017. LCDR Buck served as the EPAC Vice Chair and Co-Chair of the Events Subcommittee in 2018 and 2019 respectively. LCDR Buck serves on a Tier 1 Deployment Team and has deployed to the Louisiana Flooding of 2016 and a Remote Area Medical event in 2017. LCDR Buck and his family enjoy going to Disneyland as often as they can.

LCDR Michael Gifford, Vice Chair Term: 2020-2022 Alternate: CDR Jeremy “Bret” Nickels LCDR Michael D. Gifford began his Commissioned Corps career in 2014 as a Lieutenant with the Food and Drug Administration in Tampa, FL. As a Florida District Consumer Safety Officer, he conducted inspections, investigations, and recalls. His next duty assignment took him to Norfolk, VA where he worked with the United States Coast Guard Health, Safety, and Work-Life Service Center. As the Assistant Branch Chief of Environmental Health, he was responsible for executing fleet-wide safety and environmental health initiatives to protect Coast Guard personnel. In August 2019, LCDR Gifford transferred to the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. He now manages programs related to emergency relief for federally owned infrastructure, internal controls, and safety. In response to the devastation caused by hurricanes in 2017, he deployed to Florida on a specialized Coast Guard Safety Team. His work provided safe, sanitary conditions for more than 300 responders. LCDR Gifford is a native of Sharpsville, Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. In 2011, he earned his Master of Science degree in Environmental and Civil Engineering from Southern Methodist University. He is a current member of the Society of American Military Engineers, Commissioned Officers Association, and American Society of Safety Professionals. His professional credentials include CSP, REHS, and PMP. LCDR Gifford enjoys all kinds of music, sports, and going on adventures with his wife, Laura, and new son, Dean.


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Information Subcommittee

CAPT Josh Simms, Chair Term: 2018-2020 Alternate: LT Drew Katherine CAPT Simms is originally from Ohio and graduated from the University of Toledo with a BS in Chemical Engineering and a MS in Engineering. In 2002 he joined the U. S. Public Health Service and worked for the Indian Health Service. He spent three years as a staff engineer at the Navajo Area Office (OEHE/SFC). CAPT Simms then moved to Fort Defiance Indian Hospital (Navajo Area) where he was as a supervisory field engineer (OEHE/SFC). Next, he transferred to the Fort Yuma Indian Hospital (Phoenix Area). He had the unique opportunity of filling multiple vital roles while there. His main role was as the Facility Manager, but he also held collateral duties as the safety officer, acting administrative officer, and acting CEO. In February 2009, CAPT Simms accepted a position as a regulatory operations officer in the Office of Compliance within CDRH. He took on a position as the Branch Chief for the Cardiology Devices Branch in CDRH. In 2016 transferred to the FDA’s Office of Emergency Operations. CAPT Simms is currently the director of this office with the primary responsibility for directing FDA emergency response activities, as well as advising FDA senior leadership on the status and path of emergency response activities. CAPT Simms was a member of RDF-5 from 2009-2020 and held positions as the Deputy Team Commander, Deputy Chief Preventive Medicine, and Disaster Engineer. CAPT Simms has been actively involved in the EPAC information subcommittee since 2009.

LCDR Garrett Chun, Vice Chair Term: 2020-2022 Alternate: LT Adam Ramos LCDR Garrett Chun is currently the Branch Chief of Design & Construction in the Strategic Planning and Project Management for Yosemite National Park supervising a team of multi-disciplinary professionals on a portfolio of utility, road, and building improvement projects. Commissioned in April 2016 he has previously held assignments in the National Park Service as both a Project Manager and Civil Engineer. Prior to receiving his commission, he started his career as a private-sector water resources engineer before migrating to the National Park Service as a civilian engineer. LCDR Chun is a member of the Tier I RIST 9 team and has deployed to Hurricane Maria and the recent 2019 California Wildfires. He has also served on the EPAC Information Subcommittee since 2017 in a variety of roles. LCDR Chun holds a Master of Science from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Engineering Management and a Bachelor of Science from the University of the Pacific in Civil Engineering. He is a licensed Professional Engineer (Civil) in California and is certified as a Project Management Professional, LEED Accredited Professional, and Certified Facility Manager. Much of his spare time is spent with his wife, Kat, keeping up with two active young boys.


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Public Health Engineering Practice Subcommittee

CDR Leo Gumapas, Chair Term: 2018-2020 Alternate: CDR Andrew Yang Leo Angelo M. Gumapas is a Commissioned Officer in the United States Public Health Service and is the Environmental Compliance Officer for the NIH Bethesda Campus Central Utility Plant. He is responsible for maintaining compliance with environmental laws and maintaining water treatment program to protect heat transfer equipment and associated piping. He received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Clemson University, and he is a Professional Environmental Engineer. He worked previously as a Consultant in Kennesaw, GA helping industries comply with the Clean Air Act and as a State Regulator in Columbia, SC enforcing the Clean Air Act.

CDR James Coburn, Vice Chair Term: 2020-2022 Alternate: LCDR Hanniebey Wiyor CDR James Coburn is the Senior Advisor for Emerging Technologies in the U.S. FDA Chief Scientist’s Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats. He currently provides leadership and expert advice on advanced manufacturing technologies to Agency leadership, FDA’s 3D Printing core research facility, and external stakeholders and interagency partners. In addition to his advisory role, CDR Coburn co-chairs the Agency’s Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Working Group and facilitates interagency coordination and community engagement on program activities across a range of advanced manufacturing technologies. He has previously worked with the Center for Devices Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, medical countermeasures program, and as review staff. CDR Coburn served as the PHS liaison to the Society of American Military Engineers and as a member of the Awards and Rules EPAC subcommittees. He is a member of the RDF-3 Tier 1 deployment team and has deployed to several hurricane, disaster, and interagency response missions.


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Readiness Subcommittee

CDR Frank Chua, Chair Term: 2020-2022 Alternate: CDR Shane Deckert CDR Frank Chua is a Health Facilities Engineer assigned to the Division of Health Facilities Engineering, Indian Health Service (IHS), Sacramento, CA. He is responsible for providing professional design, project management, and construction management services to the tribal and federal health programs in California. Prior to his current duty station, CDR Chua served as a Project Manager with the Division of Facilities Management, IHS, Tucson AZ. There, he provided professional design, project management, and construction management services for projects in support of federal direct service healthcare facilities in the IHS Tucson Area. CDR Chua is a registered professional engineer in California and Louisiana, is a Board Certified Environmental Engineer and is a Certified Professional in Engineering Management. Prior to commissioning in 2012, CDR Chua spent 11 years in the private sector with an environmental engineering consulting firm focused in the design of advanced wastewater reclamation facilities maximizing in water reuse. He also served in the United States Marine Corps as an anti-tank guided missileman.

CDR Sean Bush, Vice Chair Term: 2019-2021 Alternate: CDR Mark Hench CDR Sean Bush, P.E. is an IHS District Engineer at the Escondido District Office. He holds a B.S., Environmental Resources Engineering from Humboldt State University and a M. Engineering Management from University of Idaho. CDR Sean Bush was commissioned with the USPHS as a COSTEP in May of 2000 assigned to the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the following summer came aboard with a call to active duty again assigned to the IHS. He has worked for the IHS in multiple offices in California including Arcata, Redding, Escondido, Clovis and again in Escondido. He served with the National Park Service as the Park Engineer and Park Safety Manager for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. He is currently serving as the District Engineer for the IHS in Escondido, California. CDR Bush has received the Ian K. Burgess award, the Robert C. Williams Engineering Literary award and several uniformed services award. In addition to serving with the USPHS, CDR Bush served for 6 years with the US Navy as an enlisted nuclear trained machinist mate. Upon a return to college he served with California Army National Guard as a combat engineer and later as an equipment operator with the US Naval Reserve Construction Battalion (Sea Bees). When not in the office CDR Bush can be found surfing or on adventures with his wife of 14 years Marnie. Both Sean and Marnie enjoy river rafting, camping and traveling. CDR Bush also supports the development of future engineers by serving as a travel mentor with student chapters of Engineers without Borders (EWB). He has traveled twice to Nicaragua and once to Peru with EWB.


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Recruitment and Retention Subcommittee

LCDR Praveen KC, Chair Term: 2019-2021 Alternate: CDR William Fraser LCDR K.C. join USPHS in 2013 and his first assignment was with Indian Health Service in Anchorage, Alaska. He was detail to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC). As professional mechanical Engineer he provided engineering consulting services for sanitation and health facilities throughout Alaska. He played a key role in development of ANTHC’s Rural Energy Program through design of alternative energy and energy efficiency projects. He routinely worked in extreme arctic environments. LCDR K.C. has been assigned to EPA since January 2017. he is working as Mechanical Engineer at Office of Mission Support (OMS), EPA, Washington D.C. In current position, he is managing the nationwide program to make all EPA facilities in compliance to agency Energy Independent Security Act 2007 (EISA) and serve as inhouse subject matter advisor for laboratory renovation and construction projects. LCDR K.C. holds Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. His registration and certification includes Professional Mechanical Engineer (P.E.), Certified Energy Manager and LEED Green Associate. Since 2016 LCDR K.C. is serving as a voting member of Engineering Professional Advisory Committee (EPAC). He also serves as Chair of EPAC’s Recruitment and Retention sub-committee, Lead of EPAC Vacancy listing. LCDR K.C.’s professional memberships and participation includes membership of Commissioned Officer Association (COA), U.S. Public Health Service Asian Pacific American Officers Committee (APAOC), Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), and Board Member of Nepali Samaj Alaska, nonprofit organization. LCDR K.C. was born and raised in Nepal. He came to United States in 2005 for his master’s in mechanical engineering. LCDR K.C. joined Public Health Service to honor and give back all the good things this beautiful country has provided to his family in good time as well as in hardship. In his spare time, LCDR K.C. likes to spend time with his family, as well as fishing and hiking.

LCDR Fred Kelly, Vice Chair Term: 2020-2022 Alternate: LCDR Kenneth Chen LCDR Fred Kelly is a Project Officer assigned to the National Institutes of Health, Division of Design and Construction, in Bethesda, MD. He is responsible for leading project teams that design and construct multi-million-dollar renovation and construction projects in support of 27 research institutes. Prior to his current duty station, LCDR Kelly served as a Consumer Safety Officer with the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Regulatory Affairs, in Saint Louis, MO from 2013-2016. As a Consumer Safety Officer, he planned and conducted regulatory inspections and in-depth investigations of various industry establishments such as food, animal feed, and medical devices to ensure compliance with FDA regulations. Prior to commissioning with the USPHS in 2013, he was an active duty officer in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps and is a qualified Seabee Combat Warfare Officer. LCDR Kelly is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Georgia and holds a certification as a Certified Energy Manager (CEM).


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Rules Subcommittee

CDR Deborah Cox, Chair Term: 2019-2021 Alternate: CDR Stacey Yonce CDR Cox is an environmental engineer with the Environmental Protection Agency stationed in Atlanta, Georgia. CDR Cox is a Senior Remedial Project Manager for complex Superfund hazardous waste site cleanup, leading teams of environmental professionals to collect and analyze data, set remedial goals and determine best course of action to protect human health and the environment. CDR Cox was commissioned in the USPHS in 2013 after having served 20 years in the US Navy Civil Engineer Corps, 10 on active duty and 10 in the Navy Reserve. CDR Cox graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. She earned a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School. CDR Cox is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Virginia and with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). CDR Cox currently serves as the Chair-Elect of the EPAC and Chair of the Rules Subcommittee. CDR Cox is a qualified Seabee Combat Warfare Officer and has earned the Field Medical Readiness Badge. She is a member of Rapid Deployment Force – 4, assigned to the Logistics Section.

LCDR Matt Palo, Vice Chair Term: 2018-2020 Alternate: LT Christian Parra LCDR Palo is an biomedical engineer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stationed in Queens, New York. LCDR Palo is a Regional Officer-in-Charge for the Quarantine and Border Health Services Branch in the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine. As an ROIC, LCDR Palo oversees all quarantine station operations at several international ports of entry to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases into the United States. LCDR Palo was commissioned in the USPHS in 2008 and served in multiple roles at the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Regulatory Affairs, including as a field investigator, emergency response coordinator, and deputy division director until his transfer to the CDC in January 2020. LCDR Palo graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. LCDR Palo currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Rules Subcommittee. LCDR Palo has earned the Field Medical Readiness Badge and several USPHS response and honor awards. He is a member of Rapid Deployment Force – 1, serving as the Admin/Finance Deputy Section Chief.


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Strategic Planning for Engineering

CAPT David Harvey, Chair Term: 2019-2021 Alternate: LT Melissa De Vera CAPT David Harvey is the Deputy Director of the Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction (SFC) at the Indian Health Service in Rockville, MD. He provides leadership and oversight on data, guidelines and interagency coordination for an environmental health program supporting American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes with the needs identification, planning, design and construction of water, wastewater and solid waste facilities. The SFC Program employs nationally over 500 professional, technical and administrative staff and received in FY 2018 over $200 million in appropriated and contributed funds for the construction of sanitation facilities to address $2.7 billion in identified needs. He has experience as a hospital facility manager at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, DC, as a field engineer with the Indian Health Service in Nevada, and with the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC where he worked on the Water Security Initiative, coordinated the National Tribal Drinking Water Program, and was the Arsenic Drinking Water rule manager. Prior to joining the public sector, he worked for a private engineering consulting firm in Bilbao, Spain assisting with the supply, delivery, and installation of equipment for a municipal water company in Shanghai, China. He has co-authored articles published in peer reviewed journals related to the importance of drinking water regulations in reducing health risks, the need to improve public notification around drinking water quality following disasters, and describing critical connections between fields of public health and engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Maine holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maine, a Master of Science degree from the University of Connecticut both in Civil Engineering and a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. In 2019 he was named by Johns Hopkins University as a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Public Health Degree.

CDR Sam Russell, Vice Chair Term: 2019-2021 Alternate: CDR David Gwisdalla CDR Russell was commissioned in 2003 while serving in the Indian health Service (IHS), Sanitation facilities Construction program in Kayenta, Arizona. He served with the IHS until 2011 when he was an Assistant District Engineer. CDR Russell went on to serve as a National Transportation Program Manager for the National Park Service before coming to the Environment Protection Agency in 2015. He is currently the National Tribal Drinking Water Coordinator at EPA headquarters where he coordinates implementation of the National Primacy Drinking Water Regulations on tribal lands, tribal drinking water infrastructure programs, the Tribal Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment, tribal operator certification and capacity development. CDR Russell is also a rule manager for Phase II/V drinking water regulations. CDR Russell served as EPAC Chair in 2019, Chair of the Recruitment and Retention and Rules subcommittees in 2018, and Vice Chair of Recruitment and Retention subcommittee in 2017. He holds a B.S. in civil engineering from Clarkson University, an M.S. in civil engineering from the University of New Mexico, and a Master of Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is certified in public health and is a registered professional engineer in the State of Arizona.


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Directory of Liaisons and Other Ex-Officio Volunteers LCDR Michael Simpson, EPAC Executive Secretary Term: 2020 Alternate: LT Timothy Martin

LCDR Michael Simpson started his USPHS career as a JRCOSTEP performing facilities engineering with the Indian Health Service (IHS). Beginning in 2010 with the Tucson Area office, and then in 2011 at the California Area office. LCDR Simpson was then commissioned in February 2013 with the Food and Drug Administration, becoming a second generation USPHS Officer. LCDR Simpson first position was as a general investigator or Consumer Safety Officer and then he specialized as a Medical Device Investigator. Between 2013 and 2018, LCDR Simpson accomplished over 75 routine and for-cause inspections of FDA regulated establishments and products, including medical devices, biologics, pharmaceuticals and foods that are located domestically and foreign. His most recent role is a Regulatory Officer within Office of Product Evaluation and Quality (OPEQ), Division of Health Technology 3C (Drug Delivery and General Hospital Devices) where he reviews premarket applications for infusion pumps, pen injectors, and general hospital devices as well as examine and evaluates medical device compliance with quality system regulations related to design, labeling, corrective and preventive actions and use issues. In addition to LCDR Simpson’s work with the FDA he has also performed three deployments with USPHS for missions such as the Monrovia Medical Unit in Liberia during the Ebola epidemic, logistical support during the Papal visit and Hurricane Maria relief in Puerto Rico. LCDR Simpson has provided constant mentoring to over 70 newly commissioned USPHS Engineers at the Officer Basic Course since 2013 and has assisted with streamlining workflows within the category.

LCDR Simpson is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a Master’s of Engineering in Project Management and a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He is a has been a member of the Society of American Military Engineers, Commissioned Officers Association, and American Society for Quality during his entire professional career. LCDR Simpson holds over 10 certifications including EIT, PMP, RAC, and ASQ CBA. LCDR Simpson and his wife, Laura, enjoy traveling.

CDR Nikhil Thakur, Commissioned Officers Association (COA) Liaison Term: 2019-2020 Alternate: LCDR Michael Simpson

Commander Nikhil Thakur is currently stationed at the FDA, he is an Assistant Director in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), Office of Product Evaluation and Quality (OPEQ), Office of Health Technology 3 (OHT3), Division of Drug Delivery and General Hospital Devices, and Human Factors (D3GH). CDR Thakur is responsible for leading a Staff of 12 Direct Reports and indirectly a staff of 44 Division Members to appropriately address the issues associated with infusion therapy medical devices and combination products involving infusion pumps. He is also responsible for managing the post market operations associated with all medical devices that D3GH regulates. Formerly, CDR Thakur was a Regulatory Policy Advisor for the Office of Policy for Pharmaceutical Quality (OPPQ), within the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), Office of Pharmaceutical Quality (OPQ). Prior to his position in CDER, he worked as Regulatory Policy Advisor for the Emergency Preparedness, Operations and Medical Countermeasures (EMCM) Program, within the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), Office of the Center Director, where he worked with Subject Matter Experts within FDA, and with external Federal, Public and Private Sector partners on policy issues that impact the regulation of and guidance concerning the Public Health Emergency Preparedness and the Medical Countermeasure workspaces. Commander Thakur is currently a Planning Section Member of the National Incident Support Team C (NIST TEAM C), where he supports command and control activities conducted by the USPHS for various downrange deployments. Formerly, CDR Thakur was the Section Chief for the Planning Section for the USPHS Rapid Deployment Force PHS-1, where he was responsible for ensuring that PHS-1 is equipped with the appropriate tools and training to successfully meet mission needs during a deployment.


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CAPT Varsha Savalia, Commissioned Corps Women’s Issues Advisory Board (CCWIAB) Liaison Term: 2018-2020 Alternate: CDR Theresa Grant CAPT Varsha B. Savalia is a training officer in food manufacture and technologies team with Office of Training and Development within Office of Regulatory Office at the FDA. She develops contents and delivers Food Processing and Technologies as well as Egg Safety Inspection courses as course lead. She resides in San Antonio, TX. Prior to joining the training team, she worked on the FDA databases, specialty the medical device regulatory requirements for importation in Rockville, MD. CAPT Savalia’s career within the FDA also includes being a compliance officer working on medical devices and radiological health products in Silver Spring, MD for ten years and field investigator in Nogales, AZ. Prior to joining the FDA 18 years ago, she was in private sector working in Research and Development as a scientist on Splenda for Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, NJ. CAPT Varsha Savalia has been member of EPAC since 2004 as the Executive Secretary, two terms as Voting Member and Awards Subcommittee Chair as well as active member over the years in Career Development Subcommittee, Emergency Response Subcommittee, Mentoring Subcommittee, and Recruitment & Retention Subcommittee. CAPT Savalia’s undergraduate is in Bioresource Engineering with a focus on Food Processing Engineering and Masters in Health Sciences.

LT Colin Tack, Junior Officer Advisory Group (JOAG) Liaison Term: October 2019 - September 2020 Alternate: LT Jaison Eapen LT Colin Tack and is as a Medical Device Investigator within FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs, stationed in Jamaica, NY. In this role, LT Tack mainly conducts inspections and investigations of firms who manufacture and distribute medical devices to ensure industry compliance with FDA’s regulations and to safeguard public health, consumer safety, and the public’s reliance in FDA-regulated products. LT Tack also currently serves JOAG as a Voting Member, Professional Development Committee Co-Chair, and EPAC liaison. LT Colin Tack was commissioned in December 2017 as a member of Officer Basic Course 100. Prior to his current assignment, LT Tack served as a Lead Reviewer / Regulatory Officer within FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health in Silver Spring, MD. LT Tack served in this role as a both a civilian and USPHS officer beginning July 2014 until December 2018 by leading teams of multi-disciplinary officials to evaluate scientific data and regulatory information for new cardiovascular medical devices and clinical trials. Specifically, LT Tack became experienced in conducting engineering reviews for coronary stents and stent delivery systems. In July 2018, LT Tack deployed to Washington, DC to support the Unaccompanied Children (UAC) mission within the Operations Section. LT Tack is a graduate of Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering.


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CDR Steve Sauer, Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Liaison Term: 2019-2021 CDR Steven Sauer, P.E., BCEE, is the District Engineer overseeing the operations of the Spokane District Office for the Portland Area Indian Health Service. He began his career as a COSTEP in 1999 with IHS in Sault Ste Marie, MI. After graduating, he accepted a position with the Bemidji area of IHS as a Field Engineer in Rhinelander, WI. In 2004 he transferred to Opelousas, LA to serve as a Sr. Field Engineer and manage 2 field offices with the Nashville area of IHS. In 2010 he accepted a Park Engineer position with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where provided design, project management and operational assistance to the most visited national park in the United States. He accepted the responsibility of rebuilding an IHS district office in 2017 and has hired 9 of the 11 employees working in the district. CDR Sauer is a graduate of the Missouri University of Science and Technology with a Master’s of Science in Environmental Engineer and the University of Missouri-Rolla with a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering. He is a Board Certified Environmental Engineer and is a licensed professional engineer (Louisiana). He is a life member of the Society of American Military Engineers and the Military Officers Association of America. CDR Sauer has chosen SAME to be his professional organization he actively contributes to. He has been active in SAME since 2005 when he was awarded the Green Medal. Since then he has attended most of JETC’s, worked on the Environmental Community of Interest, Chaired a Public Health track at the 2015 JETC and is currently a Co-Chair for the Health Engineering Task Force with SAME.

Documents

2020 ENGINEER PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY ......2020 Engineer Professional Advisory Committee Page 6 of 19 2020 EPAC Members (Quick Reference Guide) Chief Engineer Term Name Rank Agency