Image

The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) has named Frank Block III, Ph.D., P.E., a senior health scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as the recipient of the prestigious Federal Engineer of the Year Award for 2026.
 
Frank Block was honored during an awards luncheon held on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., alongside 18 agency winners, which included 10 finalists for the Federal Engineer of the Year Award. Now in its 47th year, the award, presented exclusively by NSPE, remains the only national recognition program devoted solely to outstanding engineers employed in the federal government.

Block’s selection as the 2026 FEYA winner was no easy feat as other nominees also exemplified the diverse and impactful work of federal engineers. Their remarkable achievements include leading large-scale projects, advancing sustainability, addressing critical safety concerns, and providing emergency response across a wide array of fields. 

A Leader in Advancing Public Health and Safety 
Block has built a distinguished career advancing public health and medical‑device safety through engineering innovation, regulatory science, and emergency‑response leadership. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering (University of Virginia, 2007), a master’s in electrical engineering (2009), and a doctorate degree in electrical engineering (2012). He is a licensed professional engineer in Maryland and is an active leader in the engineering community, including serving as chair of the IEEE Washington Section.

Since joining the FDA in 2016, Block has applied advanced engineering and analytical methods to strengthen oversight of medical devices used by millions of Americans. Between 2022 and 2025, he led several high‑impact public health emergency responses at FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). As response lead for a major national CPAP and ventilator recall affecting more than 2.8 million devices, he coordinated cross‑functional recall activities, developed patient communication strategies, and guided the creation of an FDA web hub that reached over 850,000 visitors, improving transparency and access to safety information.
 
Block also led FDA’s regulatory actions addressing widespread syringe‑quality failures from international manufacturers, where product defects threatened patient safety through contamination, leakage, breakage, and inaccurate dosing. Under his leadership, FDA conducted critical facility inspections that prevented more than 38 million non‑compliant syringes from entering U.S. healthcare settings. 

To safeguard patient access to life‑sustaining technologies during supply‑chain disruptions, Block coordinated engineering‑driven interventions that ensured continued nationwide availability of critical devices, including heart‑assist systems and their catheters. His technical leadership also extends to the academic and professional community, where he has authored peer‑reviewed publications addressing medical‑device cybersecurity, electronic‑component reliability, and global supply‑chain resilience.

A panel of judges established by NSPE’s Professional Engineers in Government selects the FEYA winner. Hailing from various federal agencies, departments, and military branches, the nominated engineers are evaluated based on factors such as engineering achievements, education, professional and technical society activities, awards and honors, and civic and humanitarian activities.