All nominations must be submitted through our online nomination portal, at apply.nspe.org. For your reference, you may also download the 2026 FEYA PDF Application. Please direct any questions to [email protected]

All federal agencies (and/or subsidiaries) employing at least 50 engineers worldwide are eligible to compete. However, agencies employing 50 engineers or less may still compete with the approval of the FEYA judging committee and will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Individual agency nominees must be currently engaged in the practice of engineering as an employee of the federal government in either a managerial or technical position. Only licensed professional engineers or engineers in training (PE or EIT) are eligible for nomination to the Top Ten Finalists, and therefore Federal Engineer of the Year. However, non-licensed engineers or those on the path to licensure are still eligible to participate in the Federal Engineer of the Year program. Engineers who will have retired within 12 months of the ceremony are also eligible for nomination.

All nominations must be submitted through our online nomination portal, at apply.nspe.org by December 12. Cabinet-level departments with major subordinate commands or agencies may submit one overall nomination, or subordinate agencies may submit nominations individually provided they qualify under the prescribed eligibility. If subordinate agencies compete individually, all nominations must be processed through the appropriate incentive awards office of the major cabinet-level department and the major department may not enter a separate nomination for the department as whole. However, agencies and commands may submit both a military and a civilian nominee. If the department wishes to enter a single nominee from among the candidates from subordinate agencies, the department is responsible for the selection of its departmental nominee.

The Federal Engineer of the Year will be selected by a panel of judges (established by the NSPE Professional Engineers in Government) using the following criteria:

Education 5 points
Registered P.E. 5 points
Continuing Education 10 points
Professional/Technical Society Activities 10 points
NSPE Involvement 5 points
Award or Honors 10 points
Civic & Humanitarian Activities 15 points
Engineering Achievements 40 points

TOTAL
100 points

The judges will first select ten finalists, or the Top Ten. Candidates must be either a PE or an EIT to progress to the Top Ten. The Federal Engineer of the Year will be selected from that group.

Please note that all nominations are considered agency winners and will be recognized during the FEYA Awards Ceremony.

An awards ceremony will be held in Washington, D.C. on February 27, 2026. Any changes to date will be shared as soon as known. All agency nominees will be recognized and are expected to attend the event. NSPE covers the cost of the plaques. However, we still need the agency/command to provide the information for the plaque. Plaque order forms are due with the nominations on December 12, 2025. The Top Ten finalists will receive special recognition, and the Federal Engineer of the Year will be presented with a gold medallion. Each agency is responsible for providing an agency representative to present the plaque at the ceremony. The Federal Engineer of the Year will also be recognized at the annual NSPECon.

Agencies are required to designate a point-of-contact (POC) through which the program will be coordinated with NSPE. Agency POC's are responsible for the following:

Publicizing the program throughout the agency and encouraging participation by all branches and field offices.

Ensuring that all nominees have been provided FEYA eligibility rules, nomination process, and selection process criteria.

Submitting the nomination form through our online nomination portal, at apply.nspe.org by December 12. Each nomination must be filled out completely. The nominee's name and gender must NOT be mentioned on any supporting materials. Completing the Plaque Order form and sending it to NSPE by December 12.

Providing a digital headshot of nominee and if possible an action shot suitable for inclusion in the PowerPoint presentation shown at the awards ceremony and on social media by December 12.

Coordinating agency attendance and ticket purchases for the February awards ceremony as substantial representation from participating agencies is essential to the success of the program.(Ticket prices are determined in January).

Coordinating with NSPE for presenter attendance and plaque presentation at the ceremony.

Publicizing nominee as agency winner. Agencies are responsible for transportation and housing, enabling nominees to attend the awards ceremony.

Find photos and highlights from last years ceremony as well as previous winners here.