Prior Award Recipients

San Diego County Engineering Council (SDCEC) Awardees:

Outstanding Engineer of the Year:

• 2025 Adam Cooperberg, General Atomics

• 2024 Kiana Aran, Ph.D., UC San Diego

• 2023 Nikolai Norausky, PE, General Atomics

• 2022 Mahasa Zahirnia, Northrop Grumman

• 2021 Sheng Xu, Ph.D., UC San Diego

• 2020 Patrick Mercier, Ph.D., UC San Diego

• 2019 Lima Saft, Ph.D., Caltrans, District 11

• 2018 Irene Nava, Ph.D., Solar Turbines

• 2017 Elizabeth Wong, The MITRE Corporation

• 2016 Sean Alexander (BS), Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)

• 2015 Vic Bianes (PE, MBA, BSCE), San Diego County Water Authority

• 2014 Todd P. Coleman Ph.D, UCSD Bioengineering Department

• 2013 Theresa Brown, Solar Turbines

• 2012 Joseph E Sauvageau Ph.D, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)

• 2011 Byung K Yi Ph.D, Mobil Research Center

• 2010 Tom Bialek Ph.D

• 2009 Kenneth A Melendez Ph.D, Science Applications International Corp (SAIC)

• 2008 Robert Hecht­-Nielsen Ph.D

• 2007 Alan R Douglas

• 2006 Leigh Merola, Raytheon

• 2005 Ken Discenza PE, CSPE, Site Designs Associates, Inc

• 2004 Clark R Hendrickson, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego

• 2003 Kent L Deines PE, RD Instruments Chief Engineer

• 2002 James S Burns Ph.D, SDSU Mechanical Engineering Dept, Cooperative Product Development Master of Engineering Program

• 2001 Alan Rick Devore, F/A-18 Hornet Fleet

• 2000 Kesh Bakhru Ph.D, Cubic Defense Systems

• 1999 Verle A Williams PE, ASRAE, AEE

• 1998 Thomas R Alspaugh PE, City of San Diego Metro Waste Water Dept, ASHRAE, AEE, Water Environmental Federation

• 1997 Albert A Kercheval PE, Kercheval Engineers

Outstanding Engineering Educator:

• 2025 Xiacong (Simon) Fan, Ph.D., CSU San Marcos

• 2024 Marta Miletic, Ph.D., SDSU

• 2023 Melissa Gibbons, Ph.D., USD Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering

• 2022 Natalie Mladenov, Ph.D., SDSU

• 2021 Oscar Vazquez-Mena, Ph.D., UC San Diego

• 2020 George Youssef, Ph.D., SDSU

• 2019 Nensi Lakrori, SDSU

• 2018 Karen May-Newman, Ph.D., SDSU

• 2017 David Gough, Ph.D., UCSD

• 2016 Olivia A Graeve Ph.D, UCSD

• 2015 Truc T Ngo Ph.D, USD

• 2014 Janusz Supernak Ph.D, SDSU CCEE Department Chair

• 2013 Rick Olson Ph.D, USD Industrial Engineering Department

• 2012 Thomas F Schubert Ph.D, USD Engineering Department

• 2011 Subrata Bhattacharjee Ph.D, SDSU 

• 2010 Susan M Lord Ph.D, USD

• 2009 Geert W. Schmid-Schonbein, Ph.D, UCSD Bioengineering Dept, Microcirculation Lab Director

• 2008 Frank G Jacobitz Ph.D, UCSD Mechanical Engineering Dept

• 2007 R Lal Tummala Ph.D

• 2006 Charles Tu Ph.D, UCSD, Chair Electrical & Computer Engineering

• 2005 Nihad Hussain Ph.D, SDSU Mechanical Engineering Department

• 2004 Leonard R Marino Ph.D, SDSU Electrical and Computer Engineering Department

• 2003 Kathleen A Kramer Ph.D, USD Electrical Engineering Chair

• 2002 Hidenori Murakami Ph.D, UCSD

• 2001 Iraj Noorany Ph.D, SDSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Dept

• 2000 Anthony V Sebald Ph.D, UCSD

• 1999 Albert L Ickstadt PE, CSPE, IEEE, Mesa College, AEA San Diego Council

• 1998 Fred Harris PE, SDSU Engineering Dept, IEEE

• 1997 Robert W Conn Ph.D, UCSD School of Engineering Dean

Outstanding K12 Engineering Educator:

• 2025 Karen Wytmans, Mt Carmel High School

• 2024 Jeremiah Jefferies, Lincoln High School

• 2024 Amy Wilson Morrison, Bernice Ayer Middle School

• 2023 Alexander "Alex" Dieu Szeto, Advancing Science Technology & Art, San Diego Mesa College Foundation, Northrop Grumman

• 2022 Ray Pathmann, San Diego City College

• 2022 Pam Pham-Barron, Rosa Parks Elementary School

• 2021 Rafael Alvarez, San Diego City College

• 2021 Dawn Hester, Westview High School

• 2021 Khamphet Pease, Wilson Middle School

• 2020 Krisztina Hagey, Hoover High School, EnCorps Fellow

• 2020 * INCOSE - Rodger Dohm, Poway High School

• 2019 Adria Van Loan, Patrick Henry High School

• 2019 * INCOSE - Becky McKinney, San Pasqual High School

Outstanding Engineering Service Award:

• 2025 Pamela Cosman, Ph.D., UC San Diego

• 2024 Upal Mahbub, Ph.D., Qualcomm, IEEE

• 2023 Mary "Dr. Mimi" Isaac, AAUW California Tech Trek, SWE

• 2022 Odesma Dalrymple, Ph.D., USD

• 2022 Jasmine LeFlore, Greater Than Tech

• 2021 Jack Silberman, Ph.D., Abbott Diabetes Care

• 2021 Ted Mulder, Northrop Grumman, INCOSE

• 2020 Lazaro Herrera, SHPE, Success Innovation

• 2019 Michelle Vargas, Illumina Incorporated

• 2018 Cory Binns, Caltrans, District 11

• 2017 Kathy Herring Hayashi, Qualcomm

• 2016 Nancy Taylor, San Diego Science Alliance (SDSA) & Better Education for Women in Science & Engineering (BEWiSE)

• 2015 Elizabeth Schroth-Nichols, PE, ASCE-YMF, Kleinfelder

• 2014 Eric Kjolsing, UCSD & ASCE O.H Ammann Research Fellowship

• 2013 Xun Luo, Ph.D., uses "mathematical tools to model and solve real-world problems"

• 2012 Sandi J Wong McKellips, Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, NavAir North Island

• 2012 *NSBE Alan Dulgeroff, SDG&E, Outstanding Leadership in Engineering Outreach

• 2011 Frank Shadpour, UCSD Extension School HVAC Systems Design and Controls, ASHRAE Fellow

• 2010 Mark Frankfurth

• 2009 Jeanne Ferrante, Ph.D, UCSD Dean of Engineering

• 2008 Thomas Avolt Kanneman, Accepted by Ms Barbara Kanneman

• 2007 Phillip D Young PE, ASME, Service to the SDCEC E-Week Banquet Committee

• 2006 David Bernardin,IEEE Vice-Chair of EMC/Safety Symposium, Cymer

• 2006 Heather Kane, SWE Speaker Bureau Chair, Raytheon WIN founder

• 2005 Nip Shah, Ph.D., ASME Fellow, Human Powered Submarine Competition Chair

• 2005 *IEEE Steve Adamson, IEEE Chair & University programs

• 2004 Terry Hache, IEEE

• 2003 Derry Connolly Ph.D, UCSD

• 2003 *IEEE Jack Alan Herr Ph.D

• 2002 Laura Meldrum, SWE and BEWiSE (Better Education for Women in Sciences and Engineering)

• 2002 *IEEE Kesh Bahkru Ph.D, IEEE Fellow

• 2001 Karen D May-Newman Ph.D, SWE Industrial Outreach Program, SDSU

• 2001 Frank Shadpour PE, ASHRAE, GEM Engineering

• 2001 *CSPE Yvonne Bergland Ph.D, San Diego Mesa College, Engineering Dean

• 2000 Donald Grey Wilson PE, SDSU, IEEE

• 2000 *IEEE Eric Herz, IEEE Fellow

• 1999 Tom Kanneman PE Ph.D, USD Electrical Engineering Dept, CSPE

• 1999 *AFCEA Chuck Pateros Ph.D, ViaSat Inc (Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association)

• 1999 *SME Harry Trout, Ryan Aeronautical

• 1998 Charles R Spinks PE, Kimley-Horn and Associates, ASCE

• 1998 Richard L Lee, General Atomics, American Physical Society

President's Citation:

• 2024 Pamela Cosman, Ph.D., UC San Diego

• 2024 Honerable Walker, USD, SpaceTime Social

• 2024 Jazmin Pantoja, CSU San Marcos, SWE, SHPE, TOM

• 2023 Sean Resor, CSU San Marcos

• 2018 "Dream Big" San Diego (Kimberly Wender, ASCE-SD, Wendy M. Grant, Fleet Science Center, Vanessa Tarronas, ASCE-YMF SD)

Outstanding Leadership in Engineering:

• 2025 Kathleen Kramer, Ph.D., USD, IEEE

• 2025 GB Singh, Ph.D., Solar Turbines

• 2024 Sylvia Zachary, Cubic Defense

• 2023 Reza Kamali, Ph.D., CSU San Marcos College of Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics

• 2022 Jon Wade, Ph.D., UC San Diego (UCSD)

• 2021 Parag Katira, Ph.D., San Diego State University (SDSU)

• 2020 Katharine E. Baker, Engineers Without Borders

• 2019 Venkat Shastri, PhD., University of San Diego (USD)

Outstanding Engineering Project:

• 2025 Expanding Early Access to Engineering Courses, UCSD Electrical and Computer Engineering, Extended Studies, Chula Vista Learning Community Charter High School

• 2025 San Diego Airport Terminal 1 Parking Plaza

• 2024: Escondido Union School District

• 2024: Scientella

• 2024: San Elijo Lagoon Pedestrian Bridge

• 2023 Our Worlds, Inc, 

• 2022 Jacobs Teen Innovation Challenge, USD

• 2022 RoboSub Sim, Team Inspiration

• 2022 New Frontiers in Material Characterizations, SDSU

• 2022 * APWA Miramar Clearwell Improvements Project, Klienfelder

• 2021 Triton Robosub, UC San Diego

• 2020 Athena Racing San Diego

• 2019 San Elijo Land Outfall Replacement Project, San Elijo Joint Powers Authority & Kennedy Jenks Consultants

• 2019 Student - Revolutionizing Mechanics of Nontraditional Materials, SDSU

• 2018 Woodside Avenue Flood Control Improvement

• 2018 * ASCE Bear Valley Parkway North, County of San Diego

• 2017 Cross Border Xpress (CBX), Kleinfelder

• 2017 * AIAA Battle Field Airborne Communications Node (BACN) Northrop Grumman Mission Systems

• 2017 * ASCE Mission Beach Bulkhead Seawall Replacement, Michael Baker International

• 2016 Cold Spray Technology, NAVAIR North Island

• 2015 Pomona Avenue Roundabout, City of Coronado, Psomas

• 2015 *ASCE San Diego New Central Library, City of San Diego, BergerABAM

• 2015 *ASCE Centennial: Cabrillo Bridge Retrofit Laurel Street Overcrossing, City of San Diego, Caltrans, T.Y.Lin International

• 2014 Santa Fe Bridge Pedestrian Undercrossing, SANDAG, City of Encinitas, T.Y.Lin International

• 2014 *ASCE Low Floor Stations Program, Green Line Extension & Orange Line Improvement, MTS SANDAG CH2M HILL

• 2014 *ASCE Allison Avenue - A Complete and Green Street, City of La Mesa, Kimley-Horn & Associates

• 2013 Sunrise Power Link, Michael Niggli for SDG&E

• 2013 *ASCE Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge, Joe Tognoli for T.Y. Lin International

• 2013 *NSBE Pre-College Initiative Program 'Summer Engineering Experience for Kids' (SEEK), Brian Ware

• 2013 *SHPE: Leadership Development and Outreach Programs, Luke Anthony Burgan, Cymer

• 2012 HP Inkjet Web Press, HP Imaging and Printing Group, HP Inkjet High-speed Production Solutions Division

• 2012 *IEEE: Blackbody Calibration System using Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectrometer, Dept of the Navy, Navy Primary Standards Laboratory (Todd Uzzell)

• 2012 *NSBE Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK) Camp, Charles Anderson for SDG&E

• 2011 Rady Children's Hospital Acute Care Addition, Rady Children's Hospital Engineering Facilities Department

• 2011 *IEEE Cloud-Mobil Convergence for Virtual Reality, CALIT2/UCSD

• 2011 *ASCE David Kreitzer Bicycle Pedestrian Bridge, T.Y. Lin International and San Dieguito River Park

• 2011 *ASM Acoustic and Electric Guitar Manufacturing, Taylor Guitars

• 2010 Twin Oaks Valley Water Treatment Plant, CH2M HILL and San Diego County Water Authority

• 2009 US Olympic Training Center BMX Track, Rick Engineering

• 2009 *IEEE Crosshairs Counter RPG/Shooter System, Mustang Technology Group, SAIC

• 2008 FORCEnet, SPAWAR

• 2007 Auxiliary Power Unit for the Boeing 787, Hamilton Sundstrand Power Systems

• 2007 *AIAA Quiet Technology Demonstration 2, Goodrich Aerostructures

• 2007 *ASM Epicyclic Gear Design, Solar Turbines

• 2007 *CPSE I-805/Olympic Parkway Interchange, Rick Engineering Company

• 2007*SME Eclipse Oxygen Concentrator, SeQual Technologies

• 2006 Mission Valley East Trolley Line Extension, Dave Raglan

• 2005 SpaceShipOne Rocket Motor, SpaceDev, Jim Benson CEO

• 2004 Olivenhain Dam and Reservoir, San Diego County Water Authority and Olivenhain Municipal Water District

• 2003 Blue Skylink C-1000A Telephone, Blue Sky Networks

• 2003 *ASCE 4S Neighborhood Land Development Project, Nolte Consultants

• 2003 *CSPE Santaluz Land Development Project, Rick Engineering Co

• 2002 Parallel Hybrid Electric Vehicle, SDSU

• 2002 *IEEE Air and Ground Combat Training Systems, Cubic Defense Systems

• 2002 *ASCE South Bay Ocean Outfall, City of San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater Dept

• 2002 *ASCE MTDB Light Rail Transportation System, Metropolitan Development Board

• 2001 F/A-18 Center Barrel Replacement Plus (CBR+) Program, Naval Aviation Depot North Island

• 2000 Twin Oaks 66 Million Gallon Reservoir, ASL Engineering Firm for Vallecitos Water District

• 2000 *AIAA Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD), Ryan Aeronautical Center

• 2000 *ASCE Otay Mesa Road Widening, Caltrans and City of San Diego

• 2000 *USD Laboratory for Engineering Design and Continuous Improvement, USD PI: Jose A Macedo, Susan M Lord, Rick T Olson

• 1999 Metro Biosolids Center (MBC), Metcalf & Eddy (M&E) for the City of San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater Dept

• 1998 San Diego International Airport Expansion and Renovation Project

• 1997 Old Town Light Rail Transit Project, San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board

* Represents a SDCEC co-sponsored society award by the listed organization