SAME Awards Spotlight GFT’s Federal Expertise and Leadership

Kevin Chafin, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, F.SAME, received the 2025 SAME Urbahn Medal, one of the organization’s highest honors. The award recognizes exceptional performance and leadership in advancing architectural excellence. 

With a 35-year career spanning military service, federal agency roles, and private-sector leadership, Kevin has demonstrated consistent achievement in design quality, mission delivery, and professional mentorship. As federal market executive at GFT, he leads strategy, sales, and delivery for federal clients across the firm. A SAME Fellow, Kevin has served the Savannah Post in several leadership roles, including president. In addition, he is the board president of GoDesign Inc., a nonprofit providing sustainable architectural solutions in underserved communities across Africa. 

Yvonne Rivera, P.E., PMP, ENV SP, F.SAME, earned both the SAME Young Professional Medal and the Post Service Medal. A long-time leader of the Houston-Galveston Post, she has served in nearly every role, including post president. For the post, Yvonne launched the Leader Development Program (LDP), spearheaded 100th anniversary military ball planning, and improved the group’s scholarship process to expand student access. Under her leadership, the Houston-Galveston Post consistently earned recognition and SAME Top Post honors.  

She supports leadership development efforts nationwide and serves as program director for the Texas Region LDP and vice co-chair of communications for the SAME National LDP Community of Interest. In addition to these honors, Yvonne was also named to the SAME Academy of Fellows in 2025, recognizing her outstanding contributions to SAME and the profession. 

Corey Weaver, P.E., F.SAME, received the SAME Young Professional Leadership in Engineering Excellence Award. This honor recognizes emerging leaders who are making meaningful contributions to the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. 

Recently joining GFT as a principal engineer in geotechnical, dams, and hydraulics, Corey brings deep federal experience and technical leadership as a former engineering technical lead for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Dam Safety Modification Center. At USACE, he led collaboration across the dam safety production centers and the $1 billion Rio de la Plata flood control project in Puerto Rico, supporting flood risk reduction and infrastructure resilience for the Dorado and Toa Baja municipalities.  

Corey is an elected director on the SAME National Board of Direction. He has also held many leadership roles in the Huntington Post, including president, and guided initiatives supporting career mentoring and development, STEM outreach, and student scholarships.