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From excelling in the classrooms of Colorado State University to leading high-impact missions at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, 1st Lt. Michael Berg has shown exceptional leadership and motivation during his time, past and present, at the 90th Civil Engineering Squadron.
The beginning of Berg’s journey into civil engineering was sparked by his natural affinity for math and science, as well as having several family members who were also engineers that inspired him early on.
Berg’s interest grew as he studied at CSU, where the demanding engineering program and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps set the stage for how it would be working as an engineer full-time in the U.S. Air Force. CSU was an environment where Berg first experienced the U.S. Air Force culture. He explained that the professionalism of Detachment 90 and the mentorship of cadre members shaped his early understanding of military service. Following commissioning, Berg was selected for the Air Force Institute of Technology, a unique opportunity for a newly accessed officer.
During his time at AFIT, Berg took on a thesis topic with high significance: water security. His data-driven metrics addressed water risks across 30 Air Force installations supporting over 100,000 personnel. This contribution caught the attention of senior leaders, including the Pacific Air Force A4 director, and was published in The Military Engineer.**
“Water is a critical resource that must be managed effectively for long-term availability,” said Berg. “When this was posed as a thesis topic, I jumped at the opportunity. The metrics and methods I created to assess water security at Air Force installations are being used as part of follow-on research with one of my advisors and some of his colleagues. Ultimately, I hope that this research can help influence policy for water management and planning decisions to ensure long-term enterprise-wide sustainability of water resources.”**
After finishing his time at CSU and AFIT, Berg earned a Master of Science in Engineering Management and the Outstanding Civil Engineer of the Future award.**
“I knew I wanted to earn a master’s while I was in the Air Force, and this was a great way because it was my full-time job,” said Berg. “For the Outstanding Civil Engineer of the Future award, I didn’t know it was a thing. It wasn’t widely broadcasted nor something you had to put a package in for, so naturally, it wasn’t something I was shooting for.”**
Now stationed at F.E. Warren AFB, Berg plays a key role and has been instrumental in modernizing the $900-million Minuteman III nuclear infrastructure and creating a strong foundation for the Sentinel missile bed-down.
When asked about the project he’s most proud of, Berg explained that it was how the 90 CES team worked together during the response and recovery of a harsh hailstorm the base faced in early August.
“The squadron came together in a matter of minutes and got to work,” said Berg. “I am extremely proud of the hard work we put in and how the squadron rallied around a common goal for the base.”
That same leadership has been evident in the wider contributions Berg has displayed here at F.E. Warren AFB. He planned and programmed nine projects in total worth $31.4 million. Some of these projects included enhancing the quality of life for 500 Airmen with two dormitory remodeling projects totaling $13.5 million, leading 42 engineers in planning and mishap responses for major base events and being selected as the 2025 Wings Over Wyoming Air Show ground boss, which included hosting over 8,000 visitors.
Though Berg has been selected for lots of leadership positions, he credits his team for support through it all. “Like with many of these things, I am not on an island – I have a large team behind me with way more expertise, so knowing who to go to when I run into roadblocks is crucial,” said Berg. “It can be daunting looking at a big problem as a whole. So, I try to break it down into incremental, manageable tasks that will culminate to the end goal.”
Recently recognized by the U.S. Air Force’s Civil Engineers #CE30Under30 list, Berg explained that he was grateful for the opportunity of being selected and for his leadership taking the time to highlight him.
“I was excited and thankful,” said Berg. “Excited because it is a cool program that recognizes people across the CE enterprise, and I feel honored to be included. I was thankful to the numerous people across my squadron who put time into the narrative and package.”
With his eyes set on future leadership roles and a deployment on the horizon, Berg is committed to continuing to learn and grow within the CE career field and mentoring the young civil engineers who will follow in his footsteps. It is important not to stay stagnant and embrace any opportunities to develop yourself as a leader or engineer,” said Berg. “No matter what you are doing, there are opportunities to learn and grow outside of your comfort zone. So, take each one seriously and do the best you can when you get those chances.”
As Berg continues to lead high-impact missions and teams, he will continue to show that he’s not just working the mission; he is taking it a step further and leading the way.
| Date Taken: | 10.08.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2025 12:32 |
| Story ID: | 551101 |
| Location: | WYOMING, US |
| Web Views: | 21 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Leading the Way: 1st Lt. Berg’s Civil Engineering Journey, by A1C Mattison Cole, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
