SSFM ON YAP?

SSFM continues to expand its presence throughout the Pacific Region. We’re serving our clients from our offices in Guam, Manila and Okinawa. But did you know we have boots on the ground on Yap, a small island in the Federated States of Micronesia?
When SSFM was awarded the job to install an electrical vault at the Yap airport, we had the perfect staffing solution. Jerome Chaz, a civil engineer who joined SSFM’s Guam office in 2020, was born and raised on Yap. He explains, “with SSFM I got to return to my native country as the Resident Engineer for our Electrical Vault project at the Yap Airport. I’m working with the contractor and client to construct a vault for two electrical backup generators and electrical equipment for the airport.”

Jerome attended Mapua Institute of Technology in the Philippines studying Civil Engineering 2001-2005. He returned to Yap after college and lived there for two years preparing for his Engineering in Training. He took the EIT exam and moved there to pursue his PE license while gaining the work experience required for the exam. He started at Black Construction as a field engineer on projects including the Naval Base, Guam and the rehabilitation of south runway at Andersen Air Force Base.

A help wanted ad led to a civil engineer position at Duenas Camacho & Associates, who hired him despite no experience in Civil design. He subsequently obtained his PE license in 2016 and became the first ever licensed Engineer from the Federated States of Micronesia. Jerome joined our Civil Engineering Group at the start of the Pandemic in April 2020. He recalls that, “Working for our Civil Engineering Group in Hawaii and Manila, I was introduced to the latest technology and getting to practice in a much larger and dynamic firm. After a year, I transferred to the Guam Office working on the DPW Bridge Inspection program. Prior to this project, I had no idea the existing bridges are regularly inspected for safety.” Jerome will be returning to Guam next month.

SSFM on Yap?

SSFM continues to expand its presence throughout the Pacific Region. We’re serving our clients from our offices in Guam, Manila and Okinawa. But did you know we have boots on the ground on Yap, a small island in the Federated States of Micronesia?

When SSFM was awarded the job to install an electrical vault at the Yap airport, we had the perfect staffing solution. Jerome Chaz, a civil engineer who joined SSFM’s Guam office in 2020, was born and raised on Yap. He explains, “with SSFM I got to return to my native country as the Resident Engineer for our Electrical Vault project at the Yap Airport. I’m working with the contractor and client to construct a vault for two electrical backup generators and electrical equipment for the airport.”

Jerome attended Mapua Institute of Technology in the Philippines studying Civil Engineering 2001-2005. He returned to Yap after college and lived there for two years preparing for his Engineering in Training. He took the EIT exam and moved there to pursue his PE license while gaining the work experience required for the exam. He started at Black Construction as a field engineer on projects including the Naval Base, Guam and the rehabilitation of south runway at Andersen Air Force Base.

A help wanted ad led to a civil engineer position at Duenas Camacho & Associates, who hired him despite no experience in Civil design. He subsequently obtained his PE license in 2016 and became the first ever licensed Engineer from the Federated States of Micronesia. Jerome joined our Civil Engineering Group at the start of the Pandemic in April 2020. He recalls that, “Working for our Civil Engineering Group in Hawaii and Manila, I was introduced to the latest technology and getting to practice in a much larger and dynamic firm. After a year, I transferred to the Guam Office working on the DPW Bridge Inspection program. Prior to this project, I had no idea the existing bridges are regularly inspected for safety.” Jerome will be returning to Guam next month.