Spring 2022

NSPE Today
IN MEMORIAM: Herbert G. Koogle, P.E., P.L.S., F.NSPE

NSPE Past President Herbert G. Koogle, age 94, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on December 19, 2021. Koogle’s engagement in NSPE and the New Mexico Society of Professional Engineers exhibited a steadfast commitment to promoting and enhancing the engineering profession and to the protection of public health, safety, and welfare.

Herbert Koogle is survived by his wife of 58 years, Judith Koogle; a son, Gregory Koogle and his wife Diane; a daughter, Amy Koogle Adams and her husband Darrell; and two grandsons, Zachary Adams and Ryan Adams. A memorial service was held on January 14, 2022.

Koogle embarked on the path to becoming a professional engineer after earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Stanford University. In 1965, he established Koogle & Pouls Engineering Inc. in Albuquerque. The firm engaged in professional design services, but was most notably a provider of engineering services for US House committees that investigated the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

Great Accomplishments

NSPE made great strides during Herbert Koogle’s time on the national leadership team and as president (1984-85). There was the opening of the $7.5 million Washington Engineering Center, NSPE’s national headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, in December 1984, and the Society’s celebration of its 50th anniversary. NSPE also led a successful legislative campaign to add an engineering mission to the National Science Foundation’s charter.

NSPE’s golden anniversary was marked by a week-long celebration in Washington, DC, with festivities on the grounds of the Washington Monument. NSPE presented walkways on the grounds of the monument as a gift from the engineering community to the public.

An anniversary gala was held at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City, which featured a recognition to NSPE past presidents. Koogle presented each attending president with a commemorative anniversary clock while quoting German poet and philosopher Johann von Schiller by stating, “he who has done his best for his own time has lived for all times.”

NSPE was also honored during the gala by the Society’s sister engineering societies. “As I accepted these gifts on behalf of NSPE, I came to believe more than ever that engineering societies working in coalitions and in consensus groups with one another can accomplish a great deal in the public interest,” Koogle recalled.

Koogle’s presidential commentaries revealed that the Society’s top priorities were continued public policy and legislative advocacy and engagement; confronting the delivery system for engineering education; and attracting and retaining student members and young engineers. In a commentary on the benefits of NSPE membership in the March/April 1985 issue of Professional Engineering News he wrote:

I can’t presume to know the motivation you had for joining NSPE, or what initial attraction there was for you. There is a cornucopia of programs in NSPE and the state societies, and some of these activities must interest you and merit your support as a member. NSPE provides identification of the profession on the national scene through our very active legislative and government affairs programs, the public relations efforts such as Engineers Week, the focusing of public attention on critical needs of the engineering educators, interface with very important bodies in the education and registration areas such as ABET and [NCEES], and many more. These are worthy of your support as a member.

Active participation in NSPE at any level is most rewarding. It’s a fine opportunity for personal growth in such areas as leadership development, interpersonal relations and contacts, group action programs, and information exchange. Stay with us. Check out what is happening at all three levels of the Society, and I believe you’ll come to the conclusion that NSPE is the prime support for the profession, and as such, is the best avenue for your continued support of the engineering profession.

Prepared to Lead

Prior to taking on the role as NSPE president, Koogle served in various national positions including as a NSPE vice president representing the Southwestern Region and as chair of the Legislative and Government Affairs Committee and the Education Committee. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the NSPE Political Action Committee and chair of the NSPE Private Practice division.

Koogle was prepared to lead on the national level by serving as president of the New Mexico Society of Professional Engineers’ Albuquerque Chapter and later as president of the state society. He was honored as the Engineer of the Year by both the state society and his local chapter. The New Mexico society established the Presidential Scholarship during his national presidency to support an engineering student from the Rocky Mountain region. He also served on the New Mexico State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. NCEES recognized Koogle for his contributions with a distinguished service medal.

In addition to his continued involvement with NSPE following his presidency, Koogle devoted his time to the New Mexico Rotary Club and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra.