ASCE has announced the winners of the 2026 Outstanding Projects And Leadership Awards. More simply known as the OPALs, the awards recognize lifetime achievement in each of five categories: construction, design, education, government, and management.
OPAL winners have advanced the civil engineering profession and enhanced their communities through innovative ideas, superb leadership, and dedication to educating generations of civil engineers.
“The career accomplishments of the 2026 OPAL Award recipients are reflective of the community-driven aspect of leaders in the engineering profession, individuals going well beyond what is asked of them to create a more equitable, efficient, safe, and sustainable society,” said ASCE President Marsha Anderson Bomar, Ph.D., AICP, ENV SP, H.ITE, NAE, F.ASCE. “ASCE is proud to honor this year’s recipients for their incredible contributions that have advanced our industry and improved communities across the nation.”
This year’s OPAL Award winners will be recognized at the 2026 OPAL Gala, Oct. 15 in Reston, Virginia.
The 2026 OPAL Award winners are:
Construction
Christine Keville, FCMAA, NAC, NAE, Hon.D.Eng
President and CEO of Keville Enterprises Inc., a 170-person construction management firm with 10 offices nationwide, and chair of the National Academy of Construction
… for being a trailblazer in the construction industry and a leader on a wide range of transportation infrastructure and building projects. Keville was the first woman president of the Moles and the first woman to hold the positions of national chair, foundation chair and chancellor of the Construction Management Association of America. Her numerous awards include Northeastern University’s Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award and Virginia Tech’s Outstanding Women in Construction Award.
Design
John D. Hooper, P.E., SE, NAC, NAE, F.SEI, Dist.M.ASCE
Director of Earthquake Engineering and senior principal at Magnusson Klemencic Associates
… for important contributions to structural engineering design through seismic resilience advancements. Hooper’s portfolio of more than 500 projects reflects performance-based seismic design, renovation, structural analysis, and earthquake engineering across diverse markets. His expertise has been integral to world-renowned buildings, including Amazon Blocks 14, 19, and 20 in Seattle; Salesforce Tower in San Francisco; Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers; Lumen Field (Seahawks Stadium) and Rainier Square Tower in Seattle; and SJC Mineta International Airport in San Jose, California.
Education
Yvette E. Pearson, Ph.D., P.E., ENV SP, F.ASEE, F.ASCE
Associate dean, University of Texas at Dallas Erik Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science and School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; and founder & principal consultant at the Pearson Evaluation and Education Research Group LLC
… for instrumental work developing educational programs that focus on topics such as ethics, sustainability, and universal design initiatives. Pearson has also led programs that advance training for educators on these topics. She has spent three decades as an engineering educator and administrator, managing more than $80M in awards for two- and four-year institutions and leading four university programs. She also served as program director of the National Science Foundation’s Division of Undergraduate Education.
Government
Emmanual CB “Cris” Liban, Ph.D., P.E., ENV SP, NAC, Dist.M.ASCE
Chief sustainability officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
… for demonstrated leadership improving the quality of life of Californians through professional, political, and social capacities. Liban oversees a $140 billion capital program for sustainability and resilience in preparation for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Through his leadership, LA Metro has been named the best environmental management system according to Columbia University; largest renewable energy installation in transit; first sustainability training program in the public sector to achieve a Model Program Award from the National Transit Institute; first transit agency to develop a climate action and adaptation plan; first transit agency in the nation to run an EV charging program focused on first and last mile, to and from park and ride stations; and first Green Construction Policy in the nation, cited by the U.S. EPA as the best nonregulatory tool to ensure clean air in construction.
Management
Patrick Natale, P.E., NAC, Dist.M.ASCE
Executive director of the United Engineering Foundation
… for world-renowned management and leadership skills that have driven organizations forward and spurred public discourse on infrastructure matters. Natale previously served 12 years as ASCE’s executive director, leading development of the nationally recognized Report Card for America’s Infrastructure and ASCE’s codes and standards. Natale served on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Industry Trade Advisory Committees for Services and Finance Industries; on the board of directors of the NJIT Foundation and the board of visitors for New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Newark College of Engineering; and executive director of the National Society of Professional Engineers. Natale was principal investigator on a National Science Foundation-funded project to increase the number of women in the engineering profession. He also spent 28 years with the Public Service Electric and Gas Company of New Jersey.
Learn more about the 2026 ASCE OPAL Gala.
