File:Susan Call National Engineers Week 2016 (24653357253) (cropped).jpg

With a civil engineer for a father, it seemed like a sure bet Susan Call would become an engineer herself one day. The ‪Richmond native took her bachelor's degree at Virginia Tech in ‪civil engineering‬, but her career path has been ever evolving. She began in the private sector with a specialty in water and wastewater treatment, but eventually turned to government service to satisfy her other goals.

Call has been a part of our NAVFAC family for 14 years and for the last two years, ‪PM‬ of the renewable energy program office. She was tapped for this position to support the ‪SECNAV‬ 1 Gigawatt Task Force, focused on producing 50 percent of the DON's energy needs through alternative sources and producing and procuring one gigawatt of renewable energy by 2015. Her expertise in third-party financing to develop cost-effective, large-scale renewable energy projects was considered invaluable and indeed it was -- the Navy was the first to procure the largest renewable procurement for 210 megawatt for 14 installations in the Southwest region. With that project and many others NAVFAC Atlantic exceeded the goal.

With strong skills in math and science in school, being an engineer was logical to Call, but it also helped her satisfy a desire to make a difference. Going from "sewage to solar," Call is proud of the fact that her work has real impact. "I'm in the midst of a great team at NAVFAC and have the chance to work with so many people that are subject matter experts in their field. Our projects affect the world and I find that exciting," says Call. "I learn something new every day and when I look back, I know this will make a difference."

Call is currently managing over 20 ‪renewable energy‬ projects with a depth and breadth that impacts the Navy around the world, allowing the Navy to meet its energy goals while simultaneously saving money. Ultimately it drives an important mission: "The focus is on the warfighter," says Call.