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| Paula Shaw |
By Jennifer Schneider
Air Force Center for Engineeringand the Environment Public Affairs
LACKLAND AFB, Texas – Paula Shaw, a general engineer with the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment, has been named the 2011 National Society of Professional Engineers’ Engineer of the Year in the Air Force civilian category.
“In today’s competitive, high-quality Air Force, this is a major milestone and outstanding accomplishment,” said Lt. Gen. Judith A. Fedder, deputy chief of staff for logistics, installations and mission support in Washington, D.C.
Shaw, who serves as program manager for Air Force sustainable design and development, is a registered professional engineer and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accredited professional. In this capacity, Shaw frequently makes presentations on the Air Force’s sustainable policy, and the advancement of sustainable principles beyond new construction to existing buildings, and the installation as a whole.
Since Shaw became the sustainability subject matter specialist, the number of Air Force LEED-certified facilities has increased from one to 25 and over 730 homes have achieved LEED silver certification. Additionally, beginning in fiscal 2010, all new buildings and eligible major renovations were put on track for certification to at least the LEED silver level. Her personal involvement in the Air Force Energy/Sustainability Demonstration Project contributed to the first Air Force LEED platinum certified building, according to those who nominated her for the award.
Over the course of the last three years, Shaw has logged over 250 contact hours focusing on sustainable design and development through various venues including GovEnergy workshops, U.S. Green Building Council summits and federal environmental symposiums. She is also a member of various sustainability groups and panels: the interagency sustainability working group, the Department of Defense Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, the DOD sustainability disciple working group, the Air Force energy capital investment panel, the Air Force energy conservation panel, the Air Force renewable energy project development panel and the USGBC Portfolio Partnership Program Pilot.
Shaw and all other federal agency awardees were honored at a NSPE awards luncheon Feb. 23 in Washington, D.C., where the NSPE Federal Engineer of the Year was announced. Air Force award winners were also highlighted during the 50th Annual Civil Engineers Awards dinner later that day at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
Shaw is a 1974 graduate of Caribou High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Maine. She is the daughter of the late William and Helen Shaw. She resides in Helotes, Texas with her husband, John Lowry, a Houlton native.
