Working in a region known for its “Very High Hazard” seismic zone and marked by extreme tropical weather — including typhoons — Pete is highly skilled in effectively addressing the complexities of remote Pacific projects. From managing long lead times for materials and equipment to overcoming labor shortages driven by the ongoing military construction program to relocate U.S. Marines to Guam, Pete’s expertise continues to drive impactful projects in the Pacific region and his award-winning leadership is a cornerstone of ArchTam’s operations in Guam.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

Growing up in Guam, the beaches and reefs were an integral part of my life. I have vivid memories of swimming and playing in areas full of coral and sea life, and in other areas that were impacted by pollution, yet we continued to visit and swim because being in the water was such a fundamental aspect of island life. Those experiences left a lasting impression on me. I often thought about the impact of pollution and how it could be addressed to preserve our environment for future generations. This reflection sparked my interest in finding ways to improve environmental conditions, particularly through engineering.

My focus naturally gravitated toward water and wastewater treatment — areas where I saw an opportunity to make a tangible difference. My father, a civil engineer specializing in roadway and stormwater management, also influenced my path. While I initially thought our interests diverged — his were in infrastructure and mine were in environmental preservation — I later realized how interconnected these fields are. Civil engineering, in all its facets, plays a critical role in protecting and enhancing our environment.

This realization solidified my commitment to the engineering field, where I could combine my passion for environmental stewardship with technical expertise to create meaningful change. It’s a journey that continues to inspire me every day.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

One of my favorite projects has been working with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps on their drinking water compliance programs in light of legally enforceable drinking water standards in various locations, including Japan, Singapore, and Diego Garcia. These projects have been particularly rewarding because they combine technical challenges with the opportunity to travel and experience different cultures. Each location presents unique requirements for compliance, as these bases operate outside the U.S. and must comply with the Navy’s Overseas Drinking Water Program, modeled after USEPA national policy and state regulatory programs.

The complexity of addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to ensure that service members and their families have access to high quality drinking water, whether it’s produced locally or sourced from a host nation, is both challenging and fulfilling. It’s about bridging the gap between local practices and U.S. standards to protect human health. These projects have allowed me to apply my expertise in water systems while also gaining insight into diverse operational environments.

Traveling for these projects has been an incredible experience, taking me to places like Guam, Hawaii, Japan, and Diego Garcia. It’s inspiring to see how our work positively impacts communities and supports the well-being of those serving abroad. The blend of technical problem solving and cultural exploration makes these projects some of the most meaningful of my career.

Share a piece of career advice.

My favorite piece of career advice came from my dad. While some parents push their kids to strive for a doctorate, my dad would often say, “Be P.H.D.” He meant, Be Poor, Hungry, and Driven. Not to be poor financially, but to always remember to be humble and remember where we came from. Not to be hungry in terms of food, but to have a strong desire for improvement and success. And to always be driven, to accomplish new goals and strive for bigger and better things.

The post Across the Indo-Pacific, from Alaska to Japan: Meet Agapito (Pete) Diaz appeared first on Blog.

Simon Middleton has over 25 years of experience in transportation infrastructure, primarily in the UK rail sector. His career began with Scott Wilson (an ArchTam legacy company), focusing on asset management projects in the UK highway and rail sectors. He advanced to lead business development and oversee client frameworks, including international work in North America and Australia, where heavy haul rail clients adopted ArchTam’s innovative asset management approach.

Simon has held various leadership roles within ArchTam’s rail business, spanning operational management, business development, and project delivery across multiple regions. Notably, he has led ArchTam’s work on the Northumberland Line reopening, a project of regional and national significance. This initiative converted a freight railway to passenger services, marking the return of rail passenger services to the line since the 1960s in 2024. The project is celebrated as transformative for North East England.

Simon is known for his collaborative approach and has built a wide network of trusted relationships within ArchTam and the broader industry.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

As a child, I loved playing with building toys like Meccano and Lego and was also very keen on art so I thought that I would become an architect. As I went through school, my direction changed a bit, because I was strongest in STEM subjects, and this led to me studying civil engineering at university.

During my summer breaks from university, I would return to my hometown and work in a frozen food factory with my friends, which involved long shifts and night work but also helped me appreciate the challenges of hard work. Before the final year of my masters, I decided to do something better aligned to my degree and took up a summer placement with legacy company Scott Wilson. This gave me a foot in the door to the business, and 27 years later I am still working for the same company. 

I have grown in enthusiasm for the industry and what it can deliver for people and communities and really enjoyed the progression through professional chartership to becoming an ICE Fellow and then mentoring others through a similar path.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

The Northumberland Line has undoubtedly been my favorite and most challenging project. I was fortunate to be involved from the early stages of development and business case, with my role expanding as the project progressed. As the project director for over six years, I led the development phases from feasibility through to detailed design, before handing over to the current Programme Delivery Director who has overseen the overall delivery of the works.

Our role on Northumberland has been influential, varied and a fantastic example of the range of expertise we have and the power of bringing this together to deliver a transformative outcome. Hundreds of my ArchTam colleagues have worked on the project, but there is a strong core team that has been involved from the early stages through to the line opening in 2024. Many of us have had to learn and adapt on the job and worked under significant pressure, but in many ways, it has still been easy to be motivated because we all know what a big difference this project will make to the communities it will serve. 

I have been awestruck by the individual effort and professionalism of many of the team members and thoroughly enjoyed the team spirit that extends beyond ArchTam to the client team and our delivery partners. We have continuously motivated each other throughout this multi-year project, celebrating the satisfaction of achieving critical milestones that once seemed out of reach. 

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

The Northumberland Line will reconnect communities to jobs and educational opportunities that were hard to access since the railway closed to passengers in the mid-1960s. The new stations are already stimulating development in housing, community hubs like Wansbeck Square in Ashington and small businesses seizing new opportunities brought by the railway. 

When the first two stations opened in December 2024, the excitement from locals using the railway for the first time in their lives, or those who had travelled on the last services before the line was closed, was fantastic.

Beyond improving lives, the project has also delivered local employment, engagement with communities, and special projects with schools. While construction caused noise and disruption, we have been sensitive to these issues from the start, always listening to concerns and mitigating them wherever possible.

Share a piece of career advice.

Embrace change and opportunity! In the early stages of my career, I got a bit stuck in my comfort zone and probably limited my progression, but as soon as I started to grasp opportunities that were put in front of me, my growth accelerated. You tend to regret the things you don’t do in life, rather than the things you do.

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