Civil Engineer Functional Advisory Council welcomes new panel leader

  • Published
  • By Amanda Pagan
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  The Civil Engineer Functional Advisory Council, or FAC, gained a new leader this month after Gene Mesick, technical services division chief at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, completed his term as the training and competency, or T&C, panel chair. Edwin Oshiba, deputy chief of staff for logistics, engineering and force protection and FAC function manager, formally appointed Dennis Guadarrama, chief of the AFCEC Enterprise Procurement Division, to fill the position during a FAC meeting Dec. 17, although transitions had already been underway since the summer.

"Dennis is the right guy at the right time," Mesick said. "He is excited about it and I am pleased to hand it off to him and look forward to where he will take the panel's efforts in the future. Even as I move into an inactive role, I will continue to support Dennis as needed."

T&C is one of six panels that make up the FAC, each supporting specific civil engineering areas in matters related to recruiting, developing, supporting and retaining a civilian workforce. T&C's responsibilities include policy development and guidance, training, tuition assistance, and career path mapping and development.

Mesick's major feat during his term was completing the development of competency dictionaries and training alignments for the last four of eight occupational series common to Air Force civil engineers, he said.

The initiative, first launched in 2011, aligned with the Air Force competency-based management framework and focused on developing occupational competencies that would provide a roadmap for career development while also shaping workforce planning, education and training efforts. The completed work includes competency dictionaries and training matrices for eight major Air Force civil engineering occupational series: civil engineering, environmental engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, housing management, architecture, community planning and realty.

"At this point we are finished with this effort, although we may do more series in the future, so it was a really good time for me to step back and let someone else take over," Mesick said. "The next step involves Robert Rushing's human capital panel. The HCP is in the process of developing new standardized core documents, or position descriptions, based on the competency dictionaries created by the T&C panel."

Guadarrama plans to sustain Mesick's momentum of moving the T&C effort forward by bringing a new focus to the panel.

"I personally have a great interest and desire for learning, and serving as chair will hopefully instill a new paradigm in the CE workforce," Guadarrama said. "My first efforts will be to immerse myself in the wage grade world. This will definitely be a learning experience for me as it will allow me to better understand the associated career paths and training desires and opportunities. I will create a direct conduit between me and the CE workforce and forge trusting relationships."

Guadarrama brings 27 years of professional experience from installation, major command and field operating agencies to the panel, as well as traits of integrity, honesty, genuine compassion and an interest in helping others grow -- all leadership attributes he holds and practices every day, he said.

Guadarrama's interest in becoming part of the FAC began in 1997, and he  previously worked with several current and former members on special projects.

As the new FAC T&C chair, Guadarrama's role will include establishing and leading his team to seek innovative ways to enhance training civil engineer career field members, coordinating with other panels and providing updates and recommendations to the FAC -- all working relationships that will require communication for success.

"Open and honest communication between panels and councils is paramount," he said. "We will face some significant challenges, yet I am confident we will develop solution sets focused on the CE workforce."

Guadarrama and Mesick have spent the past few months working together and preparing for the transition, and Guadarrama will continue to find support from not only Mesick, when needed, but from various individuals from different levels and organizations within the civil engineer community of the Air Force.

"I have the top civil engineer leaders in the Air Force offering their personal assistance and guidance," Guadarrama said. "This is going to be a cool ride."