By immersing participants in United States Coast Guard operations through hands-on demonstrations and focused discussions, the program creates an unmatched opportunity to understand the Service’s 11 statutory missions and explore new ways to support them. For ArchTam, participating is both an honor and a responsibility: a chance to listen, learn, and apply decades of expertise to help the Coast Guard execute its mission with agility and confidence.

Immersive learning: Experiencing the United States Coast Guard mission up close

The Coast Guard Industry Academy is designed to embed industry leaders with the Coast Guard across multiple missions and locations. Through interactive sessions and site visits, participants gain firsthand insight into the Coast Guard’s operational challenges and priorities. Now on its fourth cohort, we have participated in the Industry Academy since the program’s inception, sending one representative annually.

Beth Kalapos, ArchTam vice president and federal program leader, who has managed DHS’s Nationwide A/E Services IDIQ for 20 years and led numerous Coast Guard projects, shared her perspective:

Each cohort experiences a series of visits to Coast Guard facilities across the country. During his participation in the third cohort, Nathan Carte, environmental scientist, traveled to multiple locations, including Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington DC, TRACEN Cape May, Coast Guard Yard, Station South Padre Island, Base San Juan, Base Kodiak in Alaska and Base Seattle. These visits offered a firsthand look at the Coast Guard’s diverse missions — from drug interdiction and ports, waterways, and coastal security to search and rescue and protection of living marine resources.

Brendan Grady, project manager and a participant in the Industry Academy’s second cohort, experienced that same mission diversity firsthand. From donning a Gumby suit and jumping into the water at Base Seattle, to observing a helicopter-based search and rescue exercise in Miami, to tactical water training aboard an 87-foot patrol boat, the program offered immersive exposure to the breadth of Coast Guard operations.

A gathering of industry leaders

A hallmark of the Industry Academy is the diverse mix of participating organizations. Leaders from technology, engineering and security sectors work side by side, sharing perspectives and identifying ways to support the Coast Guard more effectively.

Beth reflected on the value of these interactions:

Brendan echoed this sentiment, noting the unusually broad range of industries and people represented — from A/E firms and wireless technology providers to retired military personnel and even public relations professionals.

Looking ahead: Shared commitment to mission readiness

The Coast Guard Industry Academy is more than a training program. It is a forum for shared commitment, where industry partners learn directly from the Coast Guard and identify new ways to contribute meaningful solutions.

For our participants, it deepens our understanding of Coast Guard operations, strengthens relationships and supports our mission to help federal partners operate with confidence.

We are proud to stand with the Coast Guard and fellow partners, bringing the curiosity to learn and the capability to integrate solutions that strengthen security, resilience and mission success.

Header image photo credit: Nathan Carte

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From assessment and remediation projects for Defence, to other large-scale remediation projects across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, his work continues to make a lasting impact on history and communities.

A core leader in ArchTam’s Defence Environment team, Peter also brings diverse experience from working across utilities and government organisations, where he became adept at navigating mature frameworks and robust systems. He is highly experienced in managing large teams and complex programmes of work.

Peter is a people person who, above all, thrives on getting the job done while always keeping the best interests of his clients and team top of mind.

What have been the most rewarding projects you’ve worked on in your career?

One that stands out was an assessment project that required stepping back in time. I was part researcher, part historian, diving into archives to piece together history about the site. As an author, I was hands on uncovering records, piecing them together and analysing risks. It was challenging, detailed work that demanded both problem solving and persistence.

I’ve also been fortunate to work on many large-scale assessment programs and remediation projects, which are technically challenging and often involve risky scenarios. One example is an asbestos remediation project. While these projects can be complex, they’re also incredibly rewarding because of the variety and very tangible public health outcomes for communities. I’ve had similar experiences in the utilities sector, where leading major programmes carried the same mix of complexity and community impact. Those roles broadened my perspective and strengthened my ability to adapt approaches across different industries.

What skills do you draw on most when leading Defence projects?

Communication is critical. Defence has processes to follow, layers of responsibility, and representatives from different backgrounds, so communication, both written and verbal, must be clear and precise.

Defence is also very mature in how it manages land, with established guidelines and policies that must be followed carefully. Having an experienced team around me is key, and for new team members, we always hold onboarding meetings to set expectations and align on processes from the start. That foundation sets everyone up for success.

How do you build strong client relationships on complex projects?

For me, it always comes back to being present and engaged. Regular face-to-face meetings are invaluable — you can pick up on the questions and nuances that don’t always come through virtually. On large projects or programmes, this consistent communication helps align scopes and stakeholders, keeping everyone moving towards the same purpose and goal.

I also take a hands-on role, reviewing reports and staying close to the detail. That involvement gives me confidence in the quality of what we deliver and reassures clients that their needs are front and centre. It’s about being part of the solution, not just overseeing it from a distance. This approach has been particularly important when leading large multidisciplinary teams, where fostering alignment and a “best for project” mindset ensures we deliver the right outcomes for clients and communities.

How does your work translate into positive environmental outcomes?

At its core, contaminated land management is about reducing risks to human health and the environment. The most obvious impact comes during the cleanup phase, when we assess and remediate contaminated land for beneficial reuse and it’s made safe for use again.

Outside of the Defence sector, one project I’m particularly proud of was a nature-positive remediation project that remediated sediments on a shoreline. We then hand planted that shoreline with mangrove seeds, resulting in the reestablishment of the native mangrove ecosystem. Seeing nature be restored and then flourish as a direct result of our work was a clear demonstration of the tangible benefits remediation can deliver, and very rewarding on a personal level.

What excites you most about working on Defence projects?

The variety. No two projects are the same, and each presents its own challenges.

On top of that, ArchTam’s Defence team has a strong, in-depth understanding of Defence’s portfolio. Working alongside such a capable team makes it possible for us to consistently deliver for our clients. It’s a team built on trust and deep technical understanding, and that’s something I genuinely enjoy being part of.

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Ben started his defence journey designing upgrades at HMAS Stirling, a naval base near Perth, and then moved on to RAAF Learmonth, where he designed building foundations and structures, before taking his experience globally.

Strengthening ties and global collaboration between ArchTam’s Australian and United Kingdom Defence teams, Ben was seconded to a major project in the UK, at Western Europe’s largest naval dockyard. After 12 months of learning from some of the best mentors in the world, Ben is back in Perth, bringing his international experience and highly specialised skills to major local projects.

Tell us about your career journey at ArchTam, what projects have you been involved with?

I was lucky to be part of the Metronet project in Perth, working on the Thornlie-Cockburn Link and Yanchep Rail Extension. I designed some large elements for the additional stations; retaining walls, columns, shell beams, steel superstructures and canopies.

I also contributed to one of the biggest megaprojects in the world, NEOM in Saudi Arabia, which ArchTam is involved with worldwide in many ways. I helped design the basement structure of The Line. It’s amazing to think that as a Mandurah, WA local, I was working on something of that global scale.

How did you get involved in Australian Defence work?

Defence has always been close to my heart because of my family. Due to my father’s work at ASC, I even toured Collins-class submarines. So, when the chance came to work on a project at HMAS Stirling, I jumped at it. We worked on a range of upgrades across the base, and I gained experience in defence operations and infrastructure.

Defence bases are like mini cities. They have all the services, facilities and master planning needs you’d expect, so you gain a wide range of skills and experience. I also worked at RAAF Learmonth, on the north-west coast of WA, designing foundations and structures for new buildings. This gave me deeper insight into the unique engineering challenges of remote and Defence infrastructure.

How did this lead to working in the UK?

ArchTam was working on a submarine construction yard in South Australia, and there was an opportunity to strengthen ties with our UK team through a 12-month secondment in Plymouth. The role involved design engineering on a nuclear safety-rated structure, which was a whole new level of complexity, designing for seismic loads, meeting strict compliance standards, and understanding the intricacies of this specific infrastructure.

It’s a defence project of enormous scale and multiple components that must come together as a solution to meet a new capability. I learnt so much technically and professionally. Working under the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) as the safety design authority, opened my eyes to new design approaches and guidelines, very different from what I was used to in Australia. The relationships I built with our UK colleagues will be invaluable as Australia ramps up its local programs. I’m excited to bring those skills back and help grow our local capabilities.

However, I’ll forever miss the history of the old structures that surrounded me in the Dockyards in the UK, which date back to the late 1600s, and have been operational for hundreds of years.

How will you apply your global defence experience to local projects?

I’m moving back to WA and will be working on projects that leverage my new highly specialised skills, applying everything I’ve learned over the past year, supporting future opportunities. I’ll be working with my colleagues to interpret and harmonise cross-regional nuclear submarine safety regulations.

The UK has been designing nuclear safety-related structures for decades, but this is an emerging area in Australia. I’ve learnt practical skills from those who have decades of experience in making sure these structures are safe for the community, effective and capable.

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