Scouting For You - September 2025

September 2025

September 30, 2025

Scouting for You

NEPA Without Public Comment? Risks and Realities

Melanie Hernandez, JD; Caidy Riggs; and Ryan Pingree, PMP

Imagine a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review where final environmental assessments (EAs) and environmental impact statements (EISs) are posted online with no opportunity for public comment. That scenario is already occurring across several agencies in 2025. While the Department of Defense (DoD) and some other agencies continue to provide 30-day draft public comment periods for EAs and EISs, the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have issued new procedures that reduce public involvement requirements for their NEPA documents.

2025 SAME Indo-Pacific Regional Summit Review

Attendees get ready for a presentation at the SAME 2025 Indo-Pacific Regional Summit.

Scout was proud to participate in the Society of American Military Engineer’s (SAME) 2025 Indo-Pacific Regional Summit, in Honolulu. With more than 1,100 attendees and 70+ exhibitors, the event was an energizing reminder of both the mission urgency in the region and what’s possible when we work together. As a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), that mission is especially meaningful to us.

Scouts Ryan Pingree and Melanie Hernandez bring their A game and their aloha spirit!

Scouts Ray Arguello, John Ford, Jenny Penny, Ryan Pingree, Brad Richardson (Palladium), and Melanie Hernandez at the Scout booth

Our team was well represented, with Ryan Pingree, Melanie Hernandez, Ray Arguello, Jane Penny, and John Ford, alongside many new and growing partners. Together, we remain committed to helping programs move forward across the Indo-Pacific by delivering expertise in environmental planning and compliance (including NEPA), aquatic services, and engineering support.

And when the mission demands more, we bring in the right partners to keep momentum strong. And congratulations to the newly established SAME Australia chapter—we’re excited to see the impact ahead!

Thank you to the many volunteers who made this summit possible!

San Diego Climate Week

Mark your calendars for October 1–8 for the first San Diego Climate Week, a community-powered series of events uniting policymakers, educators, entrepreneurs, advocates, and local organizations to inspire collaboration, build resilience, and drive climate action across the San Diego area.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by reflecting on the lasting influence of Hispanic and Latino communities across our nation such as Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space and former Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Justice Sonia Sotomayor whose trailblazing legal career led her to become the first Latina U.S. Supreme Court Justice, and

General Richard E. Cavazos, the first Hispanic four-star general in the U.S. Army, two-time recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross and who went on to lead the U.S. Army Forces Command. Their stories, in addition to many others, continue to shape our culture and drive progress in every field.

At Scout, we’re proud to honor these contributions while recognizing the diversity within our own team that fuels creativity and collaboration. This includes Scouts Ray Arguello, highlighting his Guatemalan heritage, and Melanie Hernandez and Becky Diaz and her family, celebrating their Puerto Rican roots. This month is both a celebration and a reminder of the strength found in sharing perspectives and building connections across communities.

John Ford - Building Partnerships Across the Indo-Pacific Region

We are pleased to highlight John Ford, who joined Scout as a key member of our Indo-Pacific Business Development team earlier this year. Based in Honolulu, John brings with him more than 40 years of experience in environmental compliance, natural resources management, and geospatial data integration throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Since coming on board, his leadership has strengthened regional programs, and expanded partnerships across Hawaii, Guam and beyond.

A recognized leader in environmental science, John has made significant contributions to environmental planning, biological surveys, ecosystem restoration, and endangered species protection in support of U.S. defense commands and international stakeholders. He holds an M.S. in Zoology (Limnology) and a B.A. in Zoology (Marine Biology) from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, along with executive training from Penn State University and an internship with the Japan External Trade Relations Organization. We are fortunate to have John’s wealth of knowledge, scientific expertise, and proven leadership on our team. If you missed him at the 2025 SAME Indo-Pacific Regional Summit earlier this month, don’t hesitate to reach out directly to explore opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region with Scout.

Scout is Hiring

FACILITIES INSPECTOR

Scout is seeking Facility Condition Assessors/Inspectors. The work will likely require up to 70% of your time traveling to military installations to perform facility condition assessments across the nation for up to two weeks at a time, with breaks between trips. Candidates must have ~5 years’ experience in conducting facility condition assessments or equivalent formal trade school education/experience in plumbing, roofing, mechanical systems, exteriors, roofing, fire protection, and/or electrical systems. Familiarity with BUILDER software is desired, but not required, should candidates be willing and able to learn how to use the BUILDER software. A PE is also not required.

This is an hourly position with the potential to become full-time, depending on the candidate's wishes and Scout’s needs. Candidates can be located anywhere in the nation and can work out of their home. Scout offers competitive benefits and is an equal opportunity employer. Apply today via https://scoutenv.com/careers