Federal service provides more than technical skills; it offers firsthand insight into how agencies operate. At GFT, this dual perspective means our professionals understand the internal pressures of federal agencies and the external demands of consulting delivery. 

Corey Weaver, PE, F.SAME, now a principal engineer at GFT, spent nearly 16 years with USACE. Most of that time was spent on dam safety and flood risk management, where technical precision intersects with urgent public needs. “I know what USACE expects from a consultant because I was on the review end for years,” Weaver said. “When we work with agencies now, I’m not just following a checklist. I’m thinking through how this will be interpreted on the client side, how it aligns with their standards, and where we can prevent missteps before they happen.”

This isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about honoring the client’s process and anticipating needs before they arise. 

GFT Navy Account Manager Brandon Tobias, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, whose 21 years of civil service included senior roles at USACE and NAVFAC headquarters, emphasized how this perspective allows GFT to bridge understanding between agency intent and delivery execution.

“We understand the ‘why’ behind the regulation,” Tobias explained. “We’ve sat through the meetings where design criteria were debated and written. So, when a client says, ‘Here’s what we need,’ we can help translate that into what it will take to get the work done on their terms.”

Darryl Moser, AIA, SAME, GPCP, CQM, DSW, who transitioned from project manager and lead architect roles at NAVFAC and the U.S. Coast Guard to vice president and federal account manager of civilian agencies at GFT, shared that same motivation.

He recalled one project where unclear space requirements threatened to delay delivery. By working directly with the client to translate mission needs into spatial concepts, GFT reduced the facility footprint and costs, an efficiency gain made possible by direct federal insight. 

Federal experience helps consultants see what’s missing and anticipate challenges before they surface. Our team uses insider knowledge to guide projects from strategy to field execution, ensuring clarity and smoother delivery at every stage. 

GFT’s federal-experienced professionals bring more than technical skills. They bring operational foresight. They understand the tension between headquarters strategies and district-level execution.

“Throughout my career, I saw how strategy at the headquarters level didn’t always align with what districts had to do to implement,” said Tobias. “Part of our value now is helping bridge that gap, so projects move more smoothly and with fewer surprises.”

Federal Program Manager Brian Edwards, PE, a former branch chief with the USACE Charleston District, added that an insider perspective helps identify what isn’t being asked.

“Sometimes a team might not know what to ask for yet,” Edwards said. “It’s not because they’re missing something. It’s because they are managing competing demands, limited resources, and evolving guidance. When we can come to the table having lived that ourselves, we’re better prepared to offer timely and useful solutions.”

Senior Project Manager Damian Rueda, PE, who spent nearly two decades as a federal civilian, understands those constraints. “We often meet program managers who just received funding and may not fully see how their project fits into a bigger picture,” Rueda said. “Having been on the inside, I help them explain cost estimates, justify changes, and prepare for the questions that will come from above. That builds trust and saves time.”

This ability to anticipate, explain, and align doesn’t stop at strategy. Cultural fluency also shapes our approach by showing how federal agencies think, work, and communicate. 

Understanding federal culture is as essential as knowing federal policy. Each agency has unique norms, language, and approval processes. Our lived experience allows us to empathize with those differences, helping clients feel understood and supported. 

“There’s a difference between the Army and the Navy, between NAVFAC Pacific and NAVFAC Atlantic, and even between Corps districts,” said Edwards. “You learn the personalities of those agencies over time. That nuance can’t always be captured in a scope of work, but it affects everything.”

Anthony Higdon, PE, CCP, F.SAME, who served as a senior Air Force civil engineer and later worked at the Department of Energy, reinforced the importance of respectful collaboration. He is now GFT’s Air Force Account Manager. “We’re not showing up to explain things to the client,” Higdon said. “We’re here to work alongside them. We support their mission, not override it.”

“Often, we act as translators,” Moser added. “By applying my experience on source selection boards and in drafting RFPs, I guide our teams to understand the drivers behind a request, even when those details aren’t fully spelled out.” 

“You can’t approach a federal client as one big organization,” said Robert Carter, who formerly served with the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security’s National Security Services Division. He is now a senior principal and federal market lead with GFT’s security and safety group. “You must understand their organizational cultures, silos, dynamic pain points, and real-world operational and budgetary constraints. Our job is to align with their priorities and offer solutions to what’s needed most, not just what’s on the wish list.”

John Peabody, PE, expanded on this complexity. “It’s not a single client. It is a cacophony of clients: programming staff, end users, and budget teams. Each has their own impulses and priorities. You need to listen to all of them to deliver a solution that works.”

This cultural fluency helps us speak the client’s language and act as true extensions of their team. It bridges gaps that scopes alone can’t address. 

Lived experience equips consultants with the foresight to anticipate pressures like funding surges, compliance demands, and workforce gaps. Having worked inside these agencies, our team knows how to respect processes while delivering practical, mission-driven solutions.

“Clients aren’t looking for someone to check boxes,” Carter said. “They’re looking for someone who understands their structure, respects their process, and helps them deliver without adding friction.” At GFT, we know that delivering exceptional work starts with understanding the systems behind the scope.

Peabody, a retired brigadier general and former USACE division commander, underscored the value of lived experience. “There are always multiple competing priorities behind any federal requirement,” he said. “When you’ve lived on the inside, you can anticipate those pressures and tailor solutions that make sense at every level: strategic, operational, and field.”

Whether it’s safety protocols, strategic planning, or stakeholder engagement, GFT’s federal-experienced team brings clarity, accountability, and cohesion to every project.

“When we show patience and insight, clients see us as trusted advisors,” Rueda added. “That’s what leads to better outcomes and long-term partnerships.”

We build relationships, deliver with integrity, and bring insight that makes life easier for our clients.