The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) announced its 2026 recipients of the Society's Outstanding Projects and Leadership (OPAL) awards, which recognize lifetime achievement in each of five categories: construction, design, education, government and management. These individuals have advanced the civil engineering profession and enhanced their communities through innovative ideas, superb leadership and a dedication to furthering the education of future 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 country," said Marsha Anderson Bomar, ASCE president. "ASCE is proud to honor this year's recipients for their incredible contributions that have advanced our industry and improved communities across the nation."
OPAL Award winners will be recognized at the 2026 OPAL Gala on Oct. 15, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Reston in Reston, Va.
The 2026 OPAL leadership award recipients are as follows:
Construction — Christine Keville, president and chief executive officer of Keville Enterprises Inc., a 170-person construction management firm with 10 offices nationwide, and past 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 projects.
Keville was the first woman president of The Moles, the first woman to hold the positions of national chair, foundation chair and chancellor of the Construction Management Association of America, and also was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering, the Sigma Lambda Chi International Construction Honors Society, and is an honorary member of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section. She has received numerous awards including Northeastern University's Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award and Virginia Tech's Outstanding Women in Construction Award.
Design — John D. Hooper, director of earthquake engineering and senior principal of 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 the multi-block Amazon Headquarters in Seattle, Wash.; Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, Calif.; San Francisco 49ers Levi's Stadium; Lumen Field (Seahawks Stadium) in Seattle, Wash.; Rainier Square Tower in Seattle, Wash.; and SJC Mineta International Airport in San Jose, Calif.
Education — Yvette E. Pearson, associate dean, University of Texas at Dallas Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics — for instrumental work developing educational programs that focus on topics such as ethics, sustainability and user-centered, universal design.
She also has led programs that advance training for educators on these topics. Pearson has spent three decades as an engineering educator and administrator, including service as a program director in the National Science Foundation's Division of Undergraduate Education, where she managed a portfolio of approximately $80 million in awards for two- and four-year institutions.
Government – Emmanuel CB "Cris" Liban, deputy chief sustainability officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority — for sustained government service strengthening public infrastructure and improving quality of life for Californians and communities worldwide.
Liban provides long-term leadership guiding sustainability, infrastructure resilience and environmental performance across a $140 billion capital investment program, ensuring public resources are managed responsibly and infrastructure is prepared to serve future generations. His work embeds practical, data-driven approaches into agency governance so transportation investments deliver lasting value to the people who rely on them daily.
Through sustained professional service and international collaboration, Liban has contributed to global capacity building and knowledge exchange, extending the influence of his public-sector work beyond the United States. Under his leadership, Metro embedded environmental responsibility into everyday operations, expanded the use of clean energy, strengthened workforce capabilities, integrated climate and resilience risks into long-term investment decisions, improved construction protections and broadened access to sustainable transportation — reinforcing public trust and stewardship.
Management — Patrick Natale, executive director of the United Engineering Foundation (UEF) — 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 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 (ITAC) for Services and Finance Industries; on the board of directors of the NJIT Foundation and the board of visitors for the Newark College of Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology; and executive director of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).
Natale was the 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 (PSE&G) of New Jersey.
For more information, visit asce.org/opal-awards/.
