ASCE has honored Rozbeh Moghaddam, Ph.D., P.E., BC.GE, M.ASCE, with the 2026 Martin S. Kapp Foundation Engineering Award for his technical innovations to advance deep foundation load testing and for his commitment and leadership in the geotechnical profession.
Moghaddam’s technical contributions to deep foundation design as well as his extensive work on static load test and bi-directional load test data reduction and application to design have advanced the foundation engineering industry. In addition to his strong engineering practice, Moghaddam has been collaborating significantly within the industry by disseminating deep foundation-related concepts through publications, seminars, short courses, and podium presentations at numerous conferences. In his time as chair of the ASCE-GI Deep Foundations Committee, he promoted the importance of the deep foundations within practitioners and academics, encouraging collaborations between members and other industry organizations.
His leadership, research, and active involvement in the geotechnical community has also been recognized with the 2020 ADSC Presidents Award, and he currently serves as the ADSC Education Task Force Chair. One of his most impactful contributions to deep foundation engineering to date is the development, production, and validation of a novel alternative to the traditional “O-Cell.” Moghaddam’s production of the top-loaded bi-directional test offers a groundbreaking and sustainable approach to load testing methods. Despite its recent development, the method is already being used by substantial entities such as the California Department of Transportation, the Idaho Department of Transportation, and the Louisiana Department of Transportation.
The Martin S. Kapp Foundation Engineering Award recognizes contributions to design or construction of foundations, earthworks, retaining structures, or underground construction. Emphasis is placed on constructed works in which serious difficulties were overcome or substantial economies were achieved.
