October 2014

COMMUNITIES: GOVERNMENT
‘I Let My Work Speak for Itself,’ Says PE

Army Reserve assistant chief discusses leadership, glass ceilings, and the importance of intuition.

Barbara Sisson, P.E., was the keynote speaker at NSPE’s July 2014 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. The assistant chief of the Army Reserve discussed, among other topics, the organization’s need for engineers and the push toward private-public partnerships. Sisson has more than 30 years of career federal service, including in the Departments of Energy, Transportation, and Defense, as well as considerable engineering consulting experience. PE caught up with her to discuss her career success, leadership perspectives, and other topics.

PE: You earned a degree in mechanical engineering. What first inspired you to join the profession?

Sisson: I was always a good student [in] math and science and was encouraged by a female elementary school math teacher to study algebra at an early age. Engineering seemed like a logical choice since I wanted to be able to stand on my own two feet financially. I was the first person in my working class family to go to college.

PE: Your military career started with ROTC as a college student before you joined the US Navy Civil Engineer Corps. What appealed to you about military service?

Sisson: A military career was also a very logical choice for me [with family who served]. I decided to join Navy ROTC to help pay for my education and have a guaranteed job. Originally I planned to be a nuclear engineer, until I found out that women in those days were restricted to teaching and research. I wanted to be able to actively use my degree, so I decided to join the US Navy Civil Engineer Corps. Another plus was that my time in the Navy would count towards my eligibility to take my PE exam!

PE: Can you talk a little bit about the engineering-related achievements in your career that you’re most proud of?

Sisson: I’m very proud to have been associated with 4 Times Square in New York City, the first “green giant” energy efficient skyscraper. I’m even more proud to have been able to break my fair share of “glass ceilings” for younger women engineers. When I started, there were very few female engineers. I was fortunate enough to be “the first female” in several roles.

PE: At the top of the Army Reserve leadership chain are two licensed professional engineers. How did this happen?

Sisson: It wasn’t really by design! However, when I was recruited for my current job, it was helpful that my boss, [Lieutenant General Jeffrey Talley, P.E.], understood what being a PE meant and [my] qualifications.

PE: How much credit do you give to your military service in developing the traits that have advanced your career?

Sisson: Studying to be an engineer is based in facts, analysis, and logic, but in practice, you also need to learn to rely on teamwork and even intuition.

In the military, I learned how to be a leader, but I also learned that part of being a great leader is learning to be a great team member.

PE: In your opinion, what are the best ways that engineers can develop leadership capability?

Sisson: Get out of your comfort zone. Participate in group projects and learn to live with ambiguity. You won’t always be in control of every aspect of any single project, and you have to learn to get comfortable with that.

PE: You’ve not only thrived in a male-dominated profession but also within a male-dominated military. What factors were most critical to your success?

Sisson: There were not a lot of female role models when my career began. On one hand, this made being different harder since I had to figure a lot of things out for myself. On the other hand, I could set my own path and expectations. Once you get over the feeling of being out there on your own, it is very liberating.

I didn’t set out to make a statement or break any barriers, it just happened. I let my work speak for itself. People will form opinions and draw their own conclusions based on your work ethic and quality.

PE: What advice would you give to a young girl who would like to follow in your footsteps as an engineer, servicewoman, or leader?

Sisson: Be yourself. Get comfortable in your own skin. Bloom where you’re planted and your work will speak for itself. Try to add what value you can in each new situation. Don’t shy away from change. Take opportunities as they come along and use them to showcase your talent. Grow and learn from your experiences. Have fun. Enjoy the ride and don’t take yourself too seriously.