The NSPE Award is the highest honor bestowed by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). This prestigious award recognizes a licensed professional engineer who has made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession, the public welfare, and humankind. It celebrates individuals whose work exemplifies the ethical and innovative spirit of engineering, advancing both the profession and society at large.

Purpose and Significance

Established to honor engineers who demonstrate exceptional service and leadership, the NSPE Award highlights achievements that have a profound impact on the engineering field and the broader community. Recipients are selected based on their professional accomplishments, commitment to public welfare, and contributions to humankind.

Notable Recipients

Over the years, the NSPE Award has been presented to distinguished engineers who have significantly influenced the profession. For instance, in 2013, Dr. Monte L. Phillips received the NSPE Award in recognition of his extensive contributions to engineering education and his volunteer leadership roles within NSPE and the broader engineering community. President Herbert Hoover was recognized in 1949 for his contributions as an engineer and later as a public servant.

Nomination Process

The NSPE Award is presented annually, with nominations typically due in the beginning months of the year. Candidates must be licensed professional engineers who have demonstrated exceptional service to the engineering profession, public welfare, and humankind. The selection process involves a thorough review of the nominee's professional achievements, ethical standards, and impact on society.

Past Recipients: See a complete list of recipients.

2022 NSPE Award Winner:
Howard (Skip) Harclerode II, P.E., F.NSPE, F.AIChE

Howard (Skip) Harclerode II, P.E., F.NSPE, F.AIChE, is the founder and president of KBD Engineering Company Inc., an environmental, chemical process, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, civil and structural engineering firm founded in 1966in Phoenix, Maryland. Harclerode is a fellow of the National Society of Professional Engineers; a fellow and life member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers; and a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers. A member of the Maryland State Board for Professional Engineers since 2003, he is a past chair and vice chair of the board. A member of NSPE since 1980, he served as treasurer of the Maryland Society of Engineers, co-chairman of Maryland Engineers Week activities, and is a co-founder of the MDSPE Educational Foundation. At the national level, in 1981, NSPE chose him to be the NSPE-PEI Congressional Fellow, where he was on the personal staff of US Senator Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico as a legislative assistant. Harclerode has served on the NSPE-PEI Interest Group Board, as a member of the Legislative & Government Affairs Committee, the Critical Infrastructure & Homeland Security Task Force, and the NSPE 2014 Annual Meeting Planning Task Force.

For over 25 years, Harclerode has participated in the Maryland Society of Professional Engineers semiannual recognition meetings to honor new professional engineers. He also continues to make presentations at Maryland universities about the importance of licensure. He was a principal advocate for the establishment of continuing professional competency requirements for engineers in Maryland.

Harclerode has been a tireless advocate for the engineering profession. He has attended numerous ABET accreditation visits for engineering programs at University of Maryland campuses and Morgan State University. He has made numerous licensure presentations to students and unlicensed engineers at all major Maryland universities, the National Security Agency, the US Army Corps of Engineers, etc. He is presently a member of the External Advisory Board for the University of Maryland Bio & Chemical Engineering Department. He has in conjunction with the Maryland Society of Professional Engineers attended their recognition meetings and personally presented PE certificates to the newly licensed engineers twice a year since 2004. He has also served as a peer reviewer for the National Science Foundation and the American for the Advancement of Science Fellowships.

He was awarded the NCEES Distinguished Service Award with Special Commendation in 2019 and received the NCEES Distinguished Service Award in 2010 for his many contributions to NCEES, including chairing the Committee on Uniform Procedures and Legislative Guidelines. Harclerode has continued his dedication to NCEES in many ways, including chairing the Committee on Finances and serving as 2011–13 Northeast Zone vice president. He has also participated on the committees on Member Board Administrators, Law Enforcement, and Examinations for Professional Engineers and on the Computer-Based Testing Implementation Task Force. A volunteer with the NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering Chemical Exam Development Committee since 2005, Harclerode served as vice chair from 2015–2018 and has served as chair since 2018. Since then, he has remained committed to advancing licensure for engineers and surveyors.

Harclerode has made significant contributions to Scouting , his church, local recreation council, and the State of Maryland (MDDF). He is married to Judith L. Harclerode, a retired attorney and resides in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Past Recipients of the NSPE Award

2022: Howard (Skip) Harclerode II, P.E., F.NSPE, F.AIChE
2020: Steven Arndt, Ph.D., P.E., F.NSPE
2019: David Thaler, P.E., F.NSPE
2017: Neil A. Norman, P.E., F.NSPE; and, Dan J. Wittliff, P.E., F.NSPE
2016: No award given
2015: Daniel Clinton, P.E., F.NSPE
2014: Larry Smith, P.E., F.NSPE
2013: Monte L. Phillips, Ph.D., P.E., F.NSPE
2012: Jose I. Guerra, P.E., F.NSPE
2011: Teresa H. Ratcliff, Ph.D., P.E.,F.NSPE
2010: No award given
2009: Richard H. Stanley, P.E.
2008: No award given
2007: No award given
2006: George J. Tamaro, P.E.
2005: No award given
2004: Richard J. Gowen, P.E., Ph.D., F.NSPE
2003: W. Gene Corley, P.E., S.E.
2002: Dr. Lyle D. Feisel, P.E.
2001: Larry D. Nixon, P.E.
2000: Charles H. Samson, Ph.D., P.E.
1999: R. Bruce Taylor, Ph.D., P.E.
1998: Francis E. Brink, P.E.
1997: Clarence W. Klassen, P.E.
1996: E. Walter LeFevre, Ph.D., P.E.
1995: No award given
1994: Earnest F. Gloyna, Ph.D., P.E.
1993: William R. Kimel, Ph.D., P.E.
1992: John W. Reh, P.E.
1991: James J. Duderstadt, Ph.D., P.E.
1990: Dr. Herbert Woodson, P.E.
1989: Robert L. Nichols, P.E.
1988: Dr. Maurice L. Albertson, P.E.
1987: Harry E. Bovay, P.E.
1986: Marvin Specter, P.E.
1985: Wilbur Stevenson Smith, P.E.
1984: Dr. Paul H. Robbins, P.E.
1983: Luis A. Ferre', P.E.
1982: Alfred H. Samborn, P.E.
1981: Kenneth A. Roe, P.E.
1981: James F. Shivler, Jr., P.E.
1980: William States Lee, P.E.
1979: Robert C. Seamans, Jr., P.E.
1978: Frederick J. Clark, P.E.
1977: Edwin H. Young, P.E.
1976: Samuel Baxter, P.E.
1975: Lyman Wilbur, P.E.
1974: Cedomir M. Sliepcevich, P.E.
1973: Roy F. Weston, P.E.
1972: Ralph B. Peck, P.E.
1971: M. R. Lohmann, P.E.
1970: John W. Beretta, P.E.
1969: William L. Everitt, P.E.
1968: Harvey F. Pierce, P.E.
1967: Murray A. Wilson, P.E.
1966: C. E. Reistle, P.E.
1965: C. Maxwell Stanley, P.E.
1964: Walter J. Barrett, P.E.
1963: Walker Lee Cisler, P.E.
1962: Charles S. Draper, P.E.
1961: L. J. Sverdrup, P.E.
1960: James F. Fairman, P.E.
1959: William F. Ryan, P.E.
1958: N. W. Dougherty, P.E.
1957: Granville M. Read, P.E.
1956: Donald A. Quarles, P.E.
1955: A. A. Potter, P.E.
1954: Harry A. Winne, P.E.
1953: Charles F. Kettering, P.E.
1952: David B. Steinman, P.E.
1949: Herbert Hoover, P.E.