Photo Information

Megan Blucher, second from the right, engineering branch manager, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., stands with Harve Hnatiuk, left, president of the National Society of Professional Engineers, Maj. Gen. Juan Ayala, second from the left, commanding officer of Marine Corps Installations Command, Headquarters Marine Corps, and David Scott Wolf, right, NSPE board member, as she holds her Federal Engineer of the Year Award as the Marine Corps’ top engineer in 2014, after a ceremony in Washington, D.C., Feb. 26. During her time on the air station, she has managed a team engineers and engineering technicians that handle the major maintenance and sustainment of the facilities.

Photo by courtesy photo

Miramar employee awarded Marine Corps’ top engineer in 2014

25 Mar 2015 | Sgt. Raquel Barraza Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

Megan Blucher, engineering branch manager, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., received the Federal Engineer of the Year Award as the Marine Corps’ top engineer in 2014.

For the last 36 years, the National Society of Professional Engineers has presented this award to top engineers in many agencies and Blucher is grateful to be one.

“I felt surprised and honored to win,” said Blucher. “[I would like to] thank them for the wonderful honor they have bestowed on me.”

Lt. Cmdr. Richard Picholski, public works officer with the base staff aboard MCAS Miramar, heard of the award at a previous command and immediately thought to nominate Blucher.

“When I looked at the engineers who worked here, she stood out with her exceptional technical and personal skills,” said Picholski. “Across the board, she has been a great asset to this office.”

During her time on the air station, she has managed a team of engineers and engineering technicians that handle the major maintenance and sustainment of the facilities and has used the opportunity to improve their role.

“I think we provide a better service than [the air station] has had in the past with the team I have,” said Blucher “We’re assisting our planning department with cost estimates which makes for better projects long term because they actually get funded at the right amounts. My team is now more involved in the execution of the projects.”

She was presented the award during an award ceremony in Washington, D.C., Feb. 26 and many came to congratulate her on her success.

“I am very pleased to congratulate Ms. Blucher on this tremendous recognition as the Marine Corps’ winner and thank her for the engineering leadership provided as well as her many valuable contributions to the Corps,” said Maj. Gen. Juan Ayala, commanding officer of Marine Corps Installations Command, Headquarters Marine Corps.

Blucher intends to continue to make sure her office and co-workers provide the best service they can to Miramar and its Marines.

“I want to make sure we are providing a valuable service and helping when we can, all the time when we can,” said Blucher “I want to continue to mentor my shop to be those types of employees.”

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar