NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – The Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC) Research and Engineering (AIR 4.0) lead received top honors Oct. 17 from the American Society of Engineering Management (ASEM) for his significant contributions to the advancement of engineering management.

Chris Holder was named the ASEM Engineering Manager of the Year during the ASEM International Annual Conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Holder was recognized for his work when he served as Research and Engineering Site Lead at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Gene Dixon, 2014 ASEM president and associate professor at East Carolina University’s College of Engineering and Technology, presented the award, which goes to a person who is a senior manager at a large, successful organization or corporation, has a track record of social responsibility, has outstanding character and ethical values, has international work experience, and has been recognized for their contributions to his/her profession, local community or society.

“Mr. Holder exemplifies the engineering manager who has the respect of his staff, his employees and his community,” Dixon said. “His activities supporting the engineering profession are a model of ASEM's motto of speaking for the profession of engineering management around the world.  Chris makes this real, both in word and in deed.”

Holder’s work building partnerships between FRCE and local school systems, community colleges and state universities cultivated the growth of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities in rural North Carolina.

“The concept was simple,” Holder said. “If we could encourage residents, promote STEM and facilitate how local academia supports STEM, we might then have more local young folks getting engineering degrees. They could then stay in the area to support the growing industry and hopefully promote additional growth.”

Holder is also active in local community activities such as Engineer’s Week and the Eastern North Carolina Science and Engineer Forum. The forum incorporates multiple counties and individuals representing public schools, economic development, business leaders, community colleges and universities.

To help encourage aspiring engineers, Holder developed a competitive program at FRCE called the Engineering Development Assistance Program (EDAP). Selectees are hired in engineering technician (student trainee) positions and receive professional work assignments and experience while pursuing a four-year engineering degree at a local college or university.

According to its website, ASEM is an international society that “speaks for the profession of engineering management around the world.” Members include academics from engineering management departments, closely affiliated departments such as industrial engineering and engineering management professionals from a wide variety of high technology industries.

COMFRC, headquartered at NAS Patuxent River, oversees and coordinates the efforts of eight commands that provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services on numerous aircraft, engines and components to support naval aviation.