BSCI Executive Master’s Student Translates Lessons into Teamwork

A person in a hard hat and safety vest stands on a snowy construction site in front of a metal-framed building and a blue boom lift.

With years in the industry, Building Science graduate student Oscar Miguel Pagan-Santana believes construction management is far more than schedules and budgets.

A man in a suit and glasses stands in front of U.S. and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flags.
Oscar Miguel Pagan-Santana

After more than two decades with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), he understands how early decisions in planning, estimating and contract administration shape a project’s success long before construction begins. That mindset led him to pursue the Executive Certificates program in the McWhorter School of Building Science (BSCI), where he is strengthening the leadership and technical skills that have defined his distinguished career.

Studying remotely from Florida, Pagan-Santana completed the both the Executive Certificate in Construction Management and the Executive Technical Certificate in Construction Management in 2025. He is working on his third certificate—Integrated Processes in Construction Management—this summer.

Two construction workers in safety gear stand in front of a large industrial machine with an American flag attached, on a gravel worksite under a cloudy sky.
Pagan-Santana (right) with Kelvin Rosado Llaurador on a USACE construction site visit.

Pagan-Santana serves as a supervisory civil engineer and Construction Management Branch Chief for the USACE Jacksonville District, overseeing construction management services for more than 95 civil works, military and international projects. His career has taken him across the United States and overseas, including assignments supporting military construction in Afghanistan and Europe. Along the way, he has earned recognition for his leadership, including the 2024 Engineer of the Year award and the 2025 Quality Professional of the Year runner-up honor.

Despite his extensive experience, Pagan-Santana said Auburn’s program offered an opportunity to continue growing as a leader while gaining a stronger understanding of construction from the contractor’s perspective. He was drawn to the executive format because it connects academic rigor with real-world construction practice for working professionals.

“One lesson I will carry forward is the importance of asking better questions before decisions become commitments,” Pagan-Santana said. “Construction management is not only about solving problems after they appear; it is about validating assumptions, constraints, risks and relationships early enough to influence the outcome.”

A worker in a hard hat and safety vest looks up at extensive scaffolding inside a large structure.
He has supervised construction for nearly 100 projects across the world.
Two men wearing race finisher medals stand beside a vintage military jeep outdoors, with buildings and a blue sky in the background.
Pagan-Santana (right) participated in the 21st Armed Forces 10K Tri-Bridge Challenge and Freedom 5K in 2025 in Jacksonville.

He said coursework in estimating, scheduling, construction law and risk management has strengthened the way he approaches decision-making within the USACE mission. More importantly, the experience has reinforced the value of sharing knowledge with others.

“In my role, the value of graduate education is not limited to my own development,” he said. “It becomes more meaningful when I can translate lessons learned into practical conversations, tools and improvements that help my team and the broader construction management community of practice.”

Three uniformed military personnel fold an American flag near a memorial with snow in the background.
Pagan-Santana joined the USACE in 2002.

As he prepares to complete his capstone project and earn his master’s degree later this year, Pagan-Santana remains focused on improving construction management practices and supporting future leaders in the industry. For him, success is measured less by title and more by impact—helping teams make better-informed decisions and deliver stronger public construction projects.

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