NORFOLK, Va. – Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic (NAVFAC MIDLANT) named Bethany Collard, R.A., as its 2026 Architect, Landscape Architect & Interior Designer of the Year, selected for her exceptional technical expertise, leadership, and enduring contributions to the Navy’s mission.
Collard, a senior architect at Resident Officer in Charge of Construction (ROICC) Newport, was recognized for her exceptional talent, vision, and long‑standing impact on Naval Station (NAVSTA) Newport. Since joining NAVFAC in 2009, she has demonstrated transformative architectural leadership, particularly through her work at the Naval War College (NWC) and Officer Training Command (OTC). Her ability to serve simultaneously as lead architect, design manager, and project manager has allowed her to guide complex projects from concept through execution with remarkable consistency and precision.
Her work at the NWC highlights her skill in integrating modern learning environments into historic structures, preserving the institution’s architectural heritage while enabling contemporary academic needs. Her design approach balanced respect for the past with the Navy’s evolving mission requirements, resulting in facilities that are both functional and architecturally significant.
Collard also played a pivotal role in a $151 million OTC berthing facility project, guiding the effort through a major scope expansion and transition to a design‑build model. She adapted architectural plans to meet accelerated timelines and ensured the Navy’s urgent berthing requirements were met without compromising design integrity. Her leadership, problem‑solving abilities, and skill in coordinating multidisciplinary teams have made her an indispensable contributor to NAVSTA Newport’s mission readiness.
Collard earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1994. A native of Tiverton, Rhode Island, she now resides in Freetown, Massachusetts.
Reflecting on the honor, she shared, “I am thankful and honored to be recognized,” noting the team‑focused mindset that has helped shape her career. “I am also extremely fortunate and grateful to work with such a remarkable team at Naval Station Newport.”
Across every project, Collard has demonstrated a rare combination of creativity, technical expertise, and problem‑solving acumen. Her commitment to blending modern functionality with architectural heritage has left a lasting imprint on NAVSTA Newport and continues to elevate the standard of design excellence across the installation.
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.
For additional information about NAVFAC MIDLANT on social media, follow our activities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/navfacmidatlantic and on Instagram @navfacmidatlantic.