PRESIDENT'S AWARD
At the president’s discretion, the American Council of Engineering Companies/Maryland honors an individual whose actions have greatly contributed to the advancement of the consulting engineering profession and the citizens of Maryland.
2021 Winner
Paul L. Shank, PE, CM
Mr. Shank has served as the Chief Engineer at the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Aviation Administration (MDOT MAA) for over 15 years. During that time, he has led the planning, design and construction of the multibillion-dollar capital improvement and systems preservation programs at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Martin State Airport. As Chief of the Division of Planning and Engineering he oversees MAA’s Office of Engineering and Construction, Office of Planning and Environmental Services, Office of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability, and the Office of Architecture.
Mr. Shank has over 40 years of experience in airport development and associated transportation, commercial and institutional development. His accomplishments are measured in the billions of dollars of projects completed throughout the United States and overseas.
He is a Professional Engineer and a Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives. He was a past recipient of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials President’s Transportation Award for Aviation and the Federal Aviation Administration’s Henry “O” Award. Mr. Shank is a commercial pilot, flight instructor and aircraft owner. Aviation is his passion.
Previous Winners
1997 R. Charles Avara | former Delegate in MD General Assembly
1998 Gene Lynch | Maryland Department of General Services Secretary
1999 David Winstead | former Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary
2000 None Awarded
2001 Emil Kordish, PE | past ACEC/MD President; retired – Rummel Klepper & Kahl, LLP
2002 Liz Homer | former SHA Deputy Administrator
2003 Delegate Casper Taylor | former Speaker of the House in MD General Assembly
2004 Francis Kuchta, PE | former Baltimore City DPW Director
2005 Carl Scheffel, PE | Fox Industries Inc.
2006 Neil Pedersen | SHA Administrator
2007 William Gluck, PE | Maryland Department of General Services
2008 Don Sherin | SHA Office of Consultant Services
2009 John Porcari, PE | Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary
2010 Jaswant Dhupar, PE | former Baltimore City DPW Engineering and Water and Wastewater Division Chief
2011 Paul J. Wiedefeld | Maryland Aviation Administration
2012 Brian R. Kelm | Maryland Defense Force
2013 Donald C. Fry | President and Chief Executive officer of the Greater Baltimore Committee
2014 William K. Hellmann, PE | Rummel, Klepper & Kahl and former MDOT secretary
2015 Douglas H. Simmons, PE | SHA Deputy Administrator
2016 Stephen V. Silva | MTA Chief Engineer
2017 James M. Irvin | Howard County DPW Director
2018 Earle S. “Jock” Freedman, PE (OOS, MDOT-SHA)
2019 Gregory I. Slater | SHA Administrator
2020 Christine Nizer | MDOT MVA Administrator