Award of Merit Honoree Dr. Bernard Amadei
The American Council of Engineering Companies is proud to recognize Dr. Bernard Amadei as the recipient of the 2026 ACEC Award of Merit—the organization’s highest honor, presented to individuals whose lifetime achievements have made a profound and lasting impact on the engineering profession and society.
An internationally renowned engineer, educator, and humanitarian, Dr. Amadei is best known as the founder of Engineers Without Borders USA. Through this groundbreaking work, he has mobilized thousands of engineers to address critical infrastructure and public health challenges in underserved communities around the world. His vision has redefined what it means to practice engineering, placing service, sustainability, and human impact at the center of the profession.
In addition to his global humanitarian leadership, Dr. Amadei’s work as a professor and researcher has influenced generations of engineers, advancing both technical excellence and a broader sense of professional responsibility. His career reflects a deep commitment to using engineering as a force for good—bridging innovation with purpose in ways that continue to shape the future of the industry.
He will be honored during the Engineering Excellence Awards Gala in Washington, D.C., where he joins the ranks of past Award of Merit recipients whose careers have defined excellence in engineering, leadership, and service—including former Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Herbert Hoover, along with General Lucius Clay, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, Carl Sagan, W. Edwards Deming, and Astronaut Neil Armstrong.
The ACEC College of Fellows plays a central role in the Award of Merit selection process, identifying and elevating leaders whose contributions exemplify the very best of the profession. Dr. Amadei’s selection reflects the strong support and recognition of this distinguished body of industry leaders.
This recognition celebrates not only Dr. Amadei’s extraordinary achievements, but also the enduring example he sets for the engineering community—one defined by innovation, integrity, and a commitment to improving lives through engineering.