John Casana, President (2011-12)
I first became involved with the ASCE-NCS about ten years ago at the suggestion of Al Grant, Past President of ASCE National, because I participated in the quarterly Sustainability Forum at the National Academies which Mr. Grant led. My initial role was a member of the NCS Sustainability Committee. The next year, I became Committee Chair.
We started the NCS annual support of EPA’s P3 EXPO, and our annual NCS Sustainability Award. I was quite content to continue to be a Committee Chair. Although I had reservations when first asked to serve on the NCS Board (as Secretary), I’ve found it a highly rewarding experience.
The Board’s breadth of experience forms a very diverse team. I derive satisfaction from the progress and achievements that NCS has made and this was the reason I decided to serve. The surprise has been the friendships I developed in the process which add such richness to the experience.
A Civil Engineer with over 30 years’ experience, John currently is employed at Booz Allen Hamilton where he serves as Facilities Lead for the Navy’s VIRGINIA Class Submarine Program. John’s areas of expertise include infrastructure, water resources, and environmental management. He is a P.E., LEED AP, a Diplomate Water Resources Engineer, and a Change Management Advanced Practitioner. He also serves on the Strategic Communications Sub-Committee of the ASCE Committee on Sustainability. John holds a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an M.S. in Hydrology from the University of New Hampshire, as well as Graduate Certificates from Harvard and Georgetown Universities. John is married with four adult children and five beautiful grandchildren. John enjoys sailing and skiing.
Christian Manalo, Director (2009–13) and President (2014–15)
Growing up outside New York City, it was not difficult to see the impact of civil engineers from tall skyscrapers and suspension bridges to heavy manufacturing and environmental restoration. As a civil engineer for more than 20 years now, it has been tremendously satisfying working on projects and programs that have had major impacts on the way we live. I am grateful for those that came before me who built up the profession and developed our body of knowledge to what it is today. As a member of the NCS Board, I have the opportunity to give back to the profession that has meant so much to myself, my family, and our society. It is exciting and inspiring to continuously hear of the good works that colleagues perform daily in the DC region, across the U.S., and around the world. It is equally inspiring being among civil engineers who devote significant time and energy to support their colleagues and promote the profession’s interests. Being an NCS Board member is not easy; it is hard work that never ends, but the rewards have been plentiful both professionally and personally.
Christian has been a practicing civil engineer for more than 20 years, having worked for the Potomac Electric Power Company, Earth Tech (now AECOM), and Booz Allen Hamilton. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Virginia and a Diplomate of Environmental Engineering. He holds both MS and BS degrees in civil engineering from the University of Maryland and Rutgers University, respectively. Christian resides in Maryland, is married and has one daughter (engineer in training, 1st Grade).
Sara Guerrero, Webmaster (2011–12) and Director (2013–14)
Being a member of the NCS BOD has provided me with many opportunities to brush up on my professional networking as a younger member, and has also provided a variety of fun opportunity to participate in many activities and events with colleagues in other civil engineering disciplines. I have developed my leadership skills while sharing ideas with the Section, and broadened my engineering knowledge base by working directly with others in different parts of the industry.Sara is a Project Manager for Facility Engineering Associates (FEA), P.C., based in Fairfax, VA, which provides engineering consulting services specifically related to the repair and restoration of existing buildings throughout the United States. Sara has worked with FEA since graduating with a B.S.E. degree in Civil Engineering from Duke University, and is a registered Professional Engineer in Virginia.
Fernando Pons, President (2008-09)
Having been involved in the NCS BOD has been fulfilling to me on a personal and professional basis. I have built life-long relationships with fellow civil engineers with whom I share mutual professional interests. Being involved with the NCS BOD also helped me hone-in on important soft skills such as writing, public speaking, and finance, especially if you take on the important roles of newsletter editor, treasurer, and president. Being part of the NCS BOD has also been a wonderful way to make a difference, give back to our profession, and outreach to our community through the many worthwhile programs that we participate in (i.e., student scholarship program, sustainability, Engineer’s Week, and Boundary Stones, just to mention a few).
Fernando is President of Pons & Associates, LLC, based in Herndon, VA, where his practice focuses on providing geotechnical engineering, environmental and facilities consulting services (www.ponsassociates.com). Prior to founding Pons & Associates, he worked for 20 years at nationally ranked geo-environmental specialty firms, including 14 years in various senior-level positions. He is a member of the ASCE’s Committee on Sustainability and Chair of the ASCE’s Infrastructure and Research Policy Committee. Fernando is also a P.E. in four states and a LEED Accredited Professional. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from Florida International University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, respectively; and an MBA from George Mason University. Fernando and his family live in Reston, VA. He can be reached at
L.J. Sauter, Jr., Newsletter Editor (2010-2013)
Joining the NCS Board as the newsletter editor has provided me with an opportunity to “take charge” of the newsletter (sort of like being responsible for environmental impact documents in my previous life, but without having to defend the results to a perpetually angry public). I enjoy preparing reports that make the reader want to read; not so highly technical that folks loose interest, and filled with photos and graphics that draw the reader’s attention and help explain the issue.
On the Board, I get to associate with eager, young, smart professionals, all P.E.s (or on the way to becoming P.E.s), who work in exciting positions doing some incredible work on projects with clear societal value. Being a Board member puts me directly in the middle of everything the Section does, from scheduling speakers to budgeting to sponsorship and outreach. As a volunteer organization, I can participate in virtually any of the NCS’ functions. And there’s always more help needed than there are volunteers to assist with NCS activities and initiatives!
Being on the BOD inspires me to come to more of the monthly meetings than I probably would otherwise because I feel a responsibility to the Section as a Board member. So I’m treated, on a monthly basis, to a presentation on some facet of civil engineering (sort of like a nerdy show-and-tell). While some of the presentations are not as fascinating as others, it’s hard not to be inspired when someone who knows what they’re talking about shares their insights on a particular topic. And many of the presentations are flat-out captivating.
L.J. retired as a Senior Project Manager from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Energy Projects in 2013, where he worked for 38 years as a sanitary (and then environmental) engineer. His work involved conducting environmental impact reviews of interstate natural gas transmission facilities, natural gas storage facilities, and liquefied natural gas import terminals. L.J. graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a M.S. in Engineering. He currently lives a quiet life with his wife in Arlington, VA.
