Graduate Spotlight: Meet Amanda Clary, a recent graduate of the Military Master Planning Institute
Meet Amanda Clary, a recent graduate of the Department of Defense Master Planning Institute! Amanda Clary is an Army Veteran who participated in the MMPI program with UVA | Northern Virginia to expand her knowledge in the Master Planning field and to gain more experience with subfields of Master Planning. We spoke with her to discuss her background, what drew her to the program, and what she learned from the course.
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your background leading up to taking this program?
A: I’m an Army Veteran. I served 7 ½ years as an Army Officer and was a Blackhawk pilot and logistics officer. I served in the 3rd Infantry Division and 2 deployments to Iraq. I also served in the 184th EOD Battalion and was a Company Commander in Afghanistan. I started working with Rubicon Planning in 2018 and really enjoy the Master Planning field and all the projects I have had the privilege of working on during the past 8 years.
Q: What first drew you to the MMPI program, and what were you hoping to get out of it?
A: I was drawn to the Military Master Planning Institute Program because it’s really the only one that currently focuses on Military Master Planning vs General Urban Planning. I have looked at AICP and took the test, but that one is very general as far as Urban Planning goes. Our field is very specific and different from the General Urban Planning field, and I wanted to gain a more in depth knowledge and professional certification in the subject of Military Master Planning to assist in my current position as a Director of Installation Support and Planning at Rubicon Planning.
Q: Which course or part of the program had the biggest impact on your skills or perspective?
A: I believe that Sustainable Historic Structures had the most impact on my perspective and skills because it’s not a subject that I deal with on a daily basis with my current projects and daily analysis. I was a little bit out of my comfort zone but that’s one of the reasons I wanted to do this course because I wanted to grow in the field of Master Planning. We focus most of our efforts on Requirements Analysis, Economic Analysis, Data Analysis within the Planning Systems. This subject allowed me to learn and expand my knowledge regarding the Sustainability planning that is critical and I enjoyed the project we put together on the Resiliency and Sustainability Considerations for the Bungalows at Ford Island. It was interesting to listen to other members of the class that were very knowledgeable on the topic and learn from them as well.
Q: Can you describe a memorable project, assignment, or real-world planning challenge you worked on during the program?
A: The project we did during the Advanced Techniques Course was the most memorable project. This took place in DC, and we worked directly with the Master Planning Team for the Arlington National Cemetery to develop an Area Development Plan (ADP) through 2050 and considered ways to keep The Cemetery relevant and active in a respectful way once it reaches full capacity. It was a great experience to work on a project that is outside of what we normally work on and meet others in the field from USACE, IMCOM, other services, and other companies and listen to their perspectives and experiences during the project.
Q: How has MMPI shaped your career path or day-to-day responsibilities in your current role?
A: It’s made me aware of some of the upcoming changes to the UFC for the Real Property Development Plan that will be important to implement moving forward with all my projects. It’s provided me with improved communication skills and ideas of better ways to present my products to the customer so it’s clear and concise and more visually appealing. It’s also made me more comfortable discussing topics like Sustainability if it comes up on a project.
Q: What is your favorite memory from your time in the program?
A: As the main course I did in person was the Arlington National Cemetery Project in DC, that would be my favorite memory as far as the program goes. Also, the ability to work with other professionals in person and gain perspectives and listen to their experiences on how they have tackled certain planning issues.
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering the MMPI program?
A: Go for it! If you are looking for a way to gain a professional certification in this very specific career path and learn from others that are currently working in the field, this is a great way to gain professional development and have fun learning as you do! The instructors are really good at making it a fun experience as well. The instructors provide the material, but they’ll also allow other members of the class to discuss how they tackle certain issues. It really allows us to learn from others in the class, not just the instructor. I definitely recommend this course to those who are looking for this type of engaging environment.
About the Department of Defense Master Planning Institute
UVA | Northern Virginia, the UVA School of Architecture, and the US Army Corps of Engineers are partnering to offer a Department of Defense Master Planning Institute in Northern Virginia. This Institute allows participants to become Military Master Planners through an innovative and immersive program that is the perfect blend of academic prowess and hands-on military planning expertise.