WIESBADEN, Germany (Aug. 23, 2023) – As a general engineer for Installation Management Command Europe’s G-4 Utilities Branch, Benjamin Stöber is doing his part to make a difference in the world.
As an interface between U.S. Army and European utility providers, Stöber supports garrison gas and electricity networks via more than 200 utility contracts and helps drive the transition to green technologies.
The U.S. Army is a large consumer of fossil fuels, which means it also produces a lot of emissions, Stöber said. Being the technical lead for renewable energies is the aspect of the job that attracted Stöber to IMCOM-Europe.
“I went to school in Landstuhl, which is close to Ramstein, so America was always a part of my life,” Stöber said. “I was super proud to join that position, because now I'm able to build a sustainable and green future with the Army.”
While he grew up around Americans and had a lot of American friends, Stöber said he didn’t consider working for the U.S. military until his brother began working with the U.S. Air Force in Ramstein. Stöber was working at a university when he applied for his current position.
“I canceled my Ph.D. and joined the Army,” he said.
He may still pursue his Ph.D., he said, but right now is enjoying the strides he’s making within his role at IMCOM-Europe. Since he joined the utilities team in June 2022, he has helped IMCOM-Europe realize a 30% gas savings and take advantage of other host nation utility savings programs.
“I want to change the world and with these big consumptions of the Army, if we’re trying to fade out all of these fossil fuels, I think it can have a direct impact and create a better world for all of us,” Stöber said. “I think that's the main thing I love in my position, that I can have a direct impact on changing the future.”
It’s important for the utilities team to work closely with energy managers at the region, as well as the garrisons, Stöber said, and one of his goals is to strengthen those relationships. He recently organized for energy and utility managers across IMCOM-Europe to participate in an energy workshop in Munich to learn more about energy transformation and renewable technologies. If the teams all work together and exchange information, it will be much easier for everyone, he said.
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