🌍✨ World Engineers Day

This week, on World Engineers Day (September 13th), we celebrated the vital role engineers play in shaping a safer, more resilient future. 

At USSD, we are proud to support Young Professionals (YPs) in dam safety and civil engineering through hands-on, international training opportunities. Earlier this year, USSD sponsored four YPs to attend the Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office (ENTRO) dam safety training in Ethiopia—building skills, capacity, and global collaboration.

From classroom instruction to site visits at the active Koysha RCC dam, participants gained real-world experience in instrumentation, Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) construction, and quality assurance.

By investing in YPs, we’re strengthening the future of our industry and building bridges with global partners like ICOLD and ENTRO. 💡

(Did you miss this post on LinkedIn? Follow us now: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ussd/) 

	Video link: https://vimeo.com/1117813608
	Sponsor Prospectus link:  https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:0cbc387b-fa2f-4d0f-a553-1e7e662acf9d

Lead with USSD in 2026!

USSD's 2026 Sponsor Prospectus was released last week. Watch a video introduction from staff that previews new purchase options and expanded benefits designed from member & sponsor feedback. We invite your organization to join us in partnership as we move From Legacy to Leadership (the theme of our 2026 Annual Conference)! 

Available Now: 2026 Sponsor Prospectus PDF

Mark your calendar for these upcoming purchase dates:

September 22nd at 9:00AM MT: Early Access Sale Opens
October 6th at 9:00AM MT: General Sale Opens

🏆 Now Accepting Submissions: 2026 USSD Awards

Know an individual, company, or project that exemplifies excellence? Now’s your chance to shine a spotlight on their impact! Nominations are now open for scholarships and awards that celebrate leadership, achievement, and dedication. Student Scholarships  Awards & Recognition 

Upcoming USSD Events 

View a full list of USSD upcoming events. 

Learn more about the Advocacy Committee and how you can join their efforts to make an impact!

The USSD Advocacy & Awareness Committee plays a critical role in amplifying our voice on the national, state, and local levels. Whether it’s supporting key legislation, shaping policy, or responding to major events, this committee helps establish USSD’s position on the issues that matter most to our industry. Behind every USSD initiative is a dedicated group of professionals who believe in the power of collective action! Learn more or share your interest in joining by emailing info@ussdams.org! 

USSD Career Center Postings

• Dam Safety Engineering Project Manager, Pennsylvania American Water
• Senior Dam Safety Engineer, Slate Geotechnical Consulants

Subscribe to receive job posting notifications in your inbox! Sign up on the USSD Career Center.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking passionate water power
professionals to guide the next generation of water power leaders as mentors for the 2026
Marine Energy Collegiate Competition and Hydropower Collegiate Competition.
 
We welcome individuals from any energy sector—including industry, government, or
academia—with experience in marine energy or hydropower to apply. Mentors are asked
to commit up to 15 hours of guidance from October 2025 through May 2026.
 
Why mentor?
• Share your expertise and inspire the next generation of energy professionals.
• Help students develop real-world skills while solving industry-relevant challenges.
• Connect with emerging talent and gain early access to potential future hires.
• Give back to the water power industry you care about and support its growth.
 
How to apply:
Click here to submit your expression of interest by September 19, 2025. Mentors and
student teams will be paired and announced in October 2025.

• Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office, these
competitions invite undergraduate and graduate students to create real-world
solutions, compete for cash prizes, and gain hands-on experience in renewable energy.
Mentoring is your chance to shape the future workforce and make a lasting impact on
the industry.

Questions? Reach out to Water.Competition@nrel.gov. 

The 78th Annual CGS Conference & 9th Canadian Permafrost Conference is September 21-24, 2025. Learn more here.

AEG 2025 will be September 23-27, 2025. Registration is now open. Learn more here.