Description

The Inside Track is a live, in-person event series that brings together leaders from key public and private sectors to share critical updates on upcoming construction projects across Hawaii. More than a rundown of bid opportunities, each session offers in-depth insights into priorities, funding outlooks, and long-term planning.

The Inside Track: Federal 

Federal investment in military infrastructure continues to create significant opportunities for Hawaii’s construction industry and throughout the Pacific. As the United States strengthens its defense posture across the region, investments in facilities, infrastructure, logistics, resilience, and modernization remain critical to supporting military readiness and long-term operations.

Join the General Contractors Association of Hawaii for The Inside Track: Federal, featuring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Honolulu District. This exclusive industry briefing will provide contractors and industry partners with valuable insight into USACE priorities, planned construction activity, procurement strategies, and opportunities anticipated across Hawaii and the Pacific.

Attendees will:

• Gain visibility into upcoming federal construction and contracting opportunities
• Learn about USACE priorities and planned work in Hawaii and across the Pacific
• Better understand federal procurement strategies, contracting vehicles, and anticipated timelines
• Gain insight to help prepare for future federal projects and solicitations
• Engage directly with USACE leadership during a live Q&A session

Whether you’re an experienced federal contractor or looking to expand into the federal market, The Inside Track: Federal provides valuable intelligence and direct access to help your company better understand what’s ahead and prepare for future opportunities.

Stay informed. Stay connected. Stay competitive.

Presenters

Anton R. Klein, P.E.
Deputy Chief, Engineering and Construction Division

Mr. Anton Klein is the Deputy Chief, Engineering and Construction Division for the Honolulu District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In this role, he helps oversee a massive portfolio, including a $1.5 billion design and $500 million construction program where he leads teams to safely deliver quality projects on time and on budget.

Mr. Klein began his federal career in 2004 with U.S. Air Force Civil Engineering before joining the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2007. An electrical engineer by trade, his extensive experience spans both design and construction phases. Throughout his career, Mr. Klein has held key leadership positions globally, including Chief of the Design Section for the Europe District and Resident Engineer and Administrative Contracting Officer for the Honolulu District. He has extensive disaster recovery and contingency experience, most recently serving as Mission Manager for the $1.1 billion Lahaina Wildfire Recovery effort—the largest in Hawaii’s history. Additionally, he has deployed to Afghanistan as a Resident Engineer and to Liberia in support of the Ebola response effort.

Mr. Klein earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from the University of North Dakota. He is a registered Professional Engineer, Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Facilities Engineering Level III and Contracting certified, and a member of the Acquisition Corps. Originally from Minot, North Dakota, Mr. Klein is married to his wife, Sydney, and they have two children, Isaac (15) and Eva (13).

Tristin N. Suetsugu
Chief of Contracting

Tristin Suetsugu has served as the Chief of Contracting for USACE’s Honolulu District since 2021. She leads a team of acquisitional professions providing acquisition support to the District’s missions, including the military, civil works, environmental, regulatory, and emergency management programs.

Suetsugu began her federal career as an Engineer Tech in the Engineering and Construction Division at the Honolulu District in 2003. She later became a contract hire supporting the District’s Geospatial Information System before being selected to participate in the acquisition contracting intern program.

In 2015, Suetsugu transferred to the Japan District where she served as a Warranted Contracting Officer and Branch Chief within the Construction Execution Branch of the Contracting Division, responsible for the execution of the Navy, Marines, DoDEA, DLA construction program. She is Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level III certified and a member of the Army Acquisition Corps (AAC).

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