NORFOLK, Va. – Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic (NAVFAC MIDLANT) named Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin Male, P.E, CEC, Public Works Officer (PWO) at Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Earle Public Works Department, as its 2026 Military Engineer of the Year, recognizing his exceptional leadership, technical expertise, and unwavering commitment to mission excellence.
“It is a tremendous honor to recognize Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin Male for his outstanding accomplishments,” said Capt. Ryan Carey, NAVFAC MIDLANT. “Each year, we celebrate peer‑nominated professionals whose dedication and performance elevate our entire community. Our nominees set themselves apart through exceptional achievement, meaningful community service, a commitment to continuous professional growth, and leadership within both technical and professional circles. We are proud to congratulate this remarkable and highly skilled officer on his well‑earned recognition.”
Male, a native of Niskayuna, New York, brings more than 20 years of distinguished engineering experience, decorated military service, and a proud family legacy of military and civil engineering to the command. A summa cum laude graduate in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern Maine and a commissioned Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officer through OCS, he has continued to build an exceptional academic foundation throughout his career. He earned a Master Certificate in Cybersecurity Fundamentals from the Naval Postgraduate School, a Master of Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Joint Professional Military Education Phase I with distinction from the Naval War College, a Great Power Competition Certificate from the Naval Postgraduate School and completed executive education at the University of Virginia’s Darden School. He is also a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Maine.
Following in the footsteps of relatives who served in both World Wars, he began his naval career as a nuclear electronics technician aboard USS Charlotte (SSN 766), earning his “dolphins” during a historic North Pole surfacing. After commissioning into the CEC, he led 22 Naval Mobile Construction Battalion THREE Seabees in expeditionary construction in Yokosuka, Japan, and later taught Electrical and Computer Engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Since assuming duties as PWO in 2023, he has led a team of 100 military and civilian personnel responsible for the construction, acquisition, and sustainment of a 2.9‑mile pier complex, 670 facilities, 85 miles of certified federal railroad, and a 12,000‑acre installation valued at $4.7 billion. His leadership drove a 12 percent reduction in vacancy rates through hiring reforms and guided the planning of $1 billion in modernization projects to support expanding mission requirements across multiple Navy Type Commands (TYCOMs). Selected in 2025 as one of only 36 officers for the Chief of Naval Operations research fellowship, he is contributing to solutions that enhance maintenance availability for ships, submarines, aircraft, and weapons systems. His attainment of the Certified Energy Manager credential in 2024 further underscores his commitment to continuous improvement, energy efficiency, and data‑driven engineering excellence.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled by being selected for this honor. During my tour at Naval Weapons Station Earle, I have been extremely fortunate to work with outstanding mentors throughout NAVFAC MIDLANT, and the region truly has an exceptional group of PWOs whose guidance has been vital in helping our team address complex challenges at the installation. I could not ask for a more talented group of professionals, both across the region and on my own staff,” said Male. “Our team consistently goes above and beyond to ensure mission success, supporting the delivery of ordnance to the Atlantic Fleet’s Carrier and Expeditionary Strike Groups.”
His career achievements include maintenance improvements on a D2W nuclear reactor, NASA research on hydrogen as an alternative energy source, and numerous academic accomplishments as both a student and faculty member. As a Master Instructor at the United States Naval Academy, he taught 13 sections of Electrical Engineering to 280 Midshipmen, strengthening the Navy’s future technical readiness and inspiring the next generation of Professional Engineers and Registered Architects, efforts that contributed to his department’s nomination for the William P. Clements Award for teaching excellence in 2023.
“The Civil Engineer Corps has afforded me the opportunity to pursue numerous educational opportunities, and the United States Navy has allowed me to carry on my family’s traditions of military service and civil engineering,” he said. “I’m fortunate to have served two tours at NAVFAC MIDLANT, and I’ve truly enjoyed solving engineering challenges and working with my incredible military and civilian teammates. I am also deeply grateful to my family, friends, and colleagues for their unwavering support over this past year.”
NAVFAC MIDLANT provides facilities engineering, public works and environmental products and services across an area of responsibility that spans from South Carolina to Maine, as far west as Illinois, and down to Indiana. As an integral member of the Commander, Naval Installations Command team, NAVFAC MIDLANT helps to ensure regional facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively.
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