Cultural Resources Manager
US Air Force Academy
Erwin Roemer, MA, RPA, Cultural Resources Manager, US Air Force Academy, CO
Academic background: BA University of Texas at Austin, Geography; MA Texas A&M University, Anthropology, original fieldwork for MA Thesis: "A Late Classic Maya Lithic Workshop at Colha, Belize"
Professional Experience: Public service archeology and related activities across multiple state and federal agencies, and private sector, for projects across the US supporting compliance with National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and related laws. Highlights include development of a Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act-influenced reburial site for American Indian human remains & associated materials relocated due to a US Army Corps of Engineers project on the Red River, Louisiana, and innovative treatment of historic steamboat wreck sites including the Civil War ironclad USS Eastport; while at the Corps I led some of the agency's first tribal consultation training, and consultation events, and later at Air Force Civil Engineer Center I advocated successfully for innovative NHPA Section 106 (federal planning process for historic properties) training events held at numerous installations AF-wide. I have been a guest instructor at the Air Force Institute of Technology for the Section 106 portion of training classes for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) planning process. I maintain enrollment in Society for American Archaeology, and the Register of Professional Archaeologists.
Professional Interests: Making federal planning processes (Sec. 106, NEPA, etc.) effective and meaningful for the best interests of the resources and all parties involved; demystifying cultural resources management for senior leaders, project team members, customers, and stakeholders; collaborating for a comprehensive approach to broader needs and opportunities, as examples (1) support to military mission, such as for encroachment-related land trusts, (2) merging commonalities of cultural and natural resources management, and (3) fostering tribal government-to-government relationships (US Executive Order 13175) beyond "check the box" compliance requirements.