Prior Award Recipients
As part of the annual San Diego Engineers Week Awards Banquet celebrations, the San Diego County Engineering Council (SDCEC) has recognized the following local San Diego County or Imperial County Engineers and Projects.
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
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