Air Force Featured Stories

Air Force engineer wins national recognition

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Robert Barnett
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
Air Force Civil Engineer Tim Sullivan was named the 2020 Federal Engineer of the Year during a ceremony, Feb. 14, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

The award recognizes federal, licensed engineers worldwide for their professional service, engineering achievements, professional and technical society activities, education, awards and honors, as well as civic and humanitarian activities. The recipient is determined by a panel of judges established by the National Society of Professional Engineers.

Utilizing his background in nuclear, mechanical, environmental and civil engineering, Sullivan, who currently serves as the chief of the technical services division at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, developed a comprehensive execution guide to support a three-year series of construction projects nationwide, totaling $604 million. These projects included a risk-management process to identify vulnerabilities of construction projects that cost the government more than $5 million.

“I am humbled to receive this prestigious award,” Sullivan said. “I appreciate the support of my amazing wife, Dr. Vicky Sullivan, as well as the Air Force Civil Engineer community. They have helped me immeasurably throughout my career.”

His accomplishments also include implementing changes to the national defense building codes, which ultimately protected Air Force facilities from storms. Sullivan also supervised a $300 million environmental engineering budget that helped model and predict the environmental stability of military installations. He also mentored young engineers in their research regarding aquifer protection, water quality assessment and water source vulnerability.