2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Including Leadership in Civil Engineering Education

Presented at Civil Engineering & Leadership Division Joint Session

Leadership in engineering is an important skill. The demands of engineering have changed due to rising global challenges and the need for leadership skills. Global competence has been studied through a global mindset and social skills. At the same time, the demand for engineers with leadership and technical skills is increasing. In a field where technical competence is traditionally valued over interpersonal and leadership skills, deliberate development of engineer leaders is needed.
Although, there has been debate about the ability to teach leadership, the ability to learn leadership skills has been shown to prepare those in leadership positions. Some engineering curriculum and professions deliberately incorporate leadership, but the need for the engineer leader is visible with the increased need for problem solving. Leadership training has been included in engineering education through specific learning approaches. Leadership has been included in curriculum in the classroom through capstone courses, and also through service learning.
The needs of the civil engineering career field are evolving due to the changing demands. Leadership skills for engineers are in demand. In this work, we discuss leadership development in undergraduate Civil Engineer education. Students are prepared for leadership challenges by developing them in curriculum incorporating leadership challenges beginning their summer of sophomore year through the spring semester of their senior year. Leadership levels and type of leadership learning is varied from learning interpersonal skill to leading small and large teams. Delivery methods include guest speakers, hands-on learning, capstone, and full-scale events with specific objectives. Multiple opportunities are provided for personal leadership, group leadership, and team leadership. Leadership responsibilities and expectations are increased over time.
Learning leadership is an iterative approach requiring multiple experiences at different levels. This work explores leadership theory and practice in civil engineering education through a holistic approach using a combination of methods. The framework used here may serve as a framework for other institutions examining incorporating or implementing leadership in programs.

Authors

Lt. Col. Monica Pickenpaugh PE United States Air Force Academy [biography]

Lieutenant Colonel Monica Y. Pickenpaugh is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dean of Faculty, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. As an Assistant Professor, she is responsible for educating, training, and equipping cadets to prepare them for service in the United States Air Force as Officers.
Capt. Owen Sedej P.E. United States Air Force Academy [biography]

Captain Owen Sedej is an Instructor in The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The United States Air Force Academy. Prior to his assignment as an instructor, he was stationed at Luke AFB, AZ. There, he served in the 56th Mission Support Group as the Executive Officer as well as in the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron as the Officer-in-Charge of Portfolio Optimization.

Owen received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in April 2020. Following his commission, he attended the Air Force Institute of Technology and received his Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Science in March 2022 as a Distinguished Graduate. Owen is also a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Arizona.
Col. Brad Wambeke P.E. United States Air Force Academy [biography]

Colonel Brad Wambeke is currently the Deputy Department Head of the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. He received his B.S. from South Dakota State University; M.S. from the University of Minnesota; and Ph.D. from North Carolina State University. He is a member of ASEE and is a registered Professional Engineer in Missouri. His primary research interests include construction engineering, lean construction, and engineering education.
Lt. Col. Joseph Pickenpaugh PE, PMP NORAD and USNORTHCOM J4 [biography]

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Pickenpaugh serves as the Air Force Staff Engineer at NORAD and USNORTHCOM, where he provides operational engineering support to joint and bi-national missions through infrastructure planning, posture development, and contingency operations across North America. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Virginia Military Institute, along with master’s degrees in Engineering Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology and Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. Throughout his career, he has led engineering, operations, and emergency services teams across assignments in the United States, Qatar, Honduras, and the Republic of Korea. Lt Col Pickenpaugh is a licensed professional engineer in Colorado and a lifetime member of the Society of American Military Engineers. His assignments have included joint, expeditionary, staff, and garrison engineering roles.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025

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