Posted on July 31, 2024
MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 30, 2024 – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Headquarters Engineering and Construction Division announced in June that Nicholas “Nikko” Aleman, the Geotechnical Section Chief for the Memphis District (MVM), is the recipient of this year’s Timothy Skeen Geotechnics Professional of the Year award.
The Timothy Skeen Geotechnics Professional of the Year award recognizes one USACE geotechnics professional who has demonstrated the highest professionalism and commitment to advancing the Geotechnical, Geology, and Materials Community of Practice (GG&M CoP).
Receiving the award, Aleman recognized the intense competition and felt humbled at his selection as the winner.
“I was really blown away by the honor of receiving this award,” said Aleman. “There are a lot of very sharp people who work for USACE, and I am fortunate to know a lot of them. To be recognized in a big pool with some big fish seems to be very special.”
Aleman said his career has provided him with several opportunities and challenges, ultimately leading to his growth and promotion to geotechnical section chief for the Memphis District.
Before this leadership role, Aleman served as a regional technical specialist, lead geotechnical engineer, and technical lead while working on project delivery teams nationwide.
“Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with several outstanding geotechnical engineers and I have tried to seize those interactions as opportunities to learn and become a more capable engineer,” said Aleman.
Aleman is frequently asked to assist with design work, perform reviews, and speak at various USACE projects nationwide; such involvement connects Aleman with an estimated 15 to 20 projects at any given time each year.
At present, Aleman and his team are engaged in a levee restoration project for the Galveston District and another notable levee project for the Jacksonville District, underlining leadership’s trust in Aleman and his team to manage and execute significant projects from afar.
Finally, Aleman and his section are involved with the design of 10 separate projects in New Orleans, all with an estimated budget of over $700 million and authorized under the New Orleans to Venice (NOV) project authority.
For Aleman, the projects mentioned above teach him and his team valuable lessons and also serve as real-world lessons when mentoring young geotechnical engineers.
Beyond his professional achievements, Aleman dedicates considerable time to mentoring and developing the junior USACE workforce. One example is his creation of an informal mentorship program.
The program, developed for young USACE geotechnical staff, offers guidance with design and project reviews and other general career advancement support.
His commitment to mentorship is also evident in his involvement with local schools, which includes the time he stepped in to teach a graduate class for the University of Memphis.
“I have been blessed to find a career where I love what I get to do every day,” said Aleman. “I really enjoy solving technical challenges and sharing my experience with other engineers through reviews, collaboration, and mentoring.”
There were over a thousand qualified candidates for the Timothy Skeen Geotechnics Professional of the Year award. Still, Aleman’s extraordinary work ethic, unparalleled leadership, and dedication to young engineers and the future of GG&M set him apart from the rest, earning him this highly regarded award and esteemed recognition.
Expressing his gratitude, Aleman wanted to thank his supervisor, Cory Williams, for the nomination, and also the USACE and GG&M CoP leadership, for their consideration and selection.
“I would also like to thank my family for their continued support as well as my mentors from the past because they have taken a portion of their lives to spend time with me to help with my development,” added Aleman. “And that is very special, because time is one of those things that you cannot buy.”
