W. N. Carey, Jr., Transportation Research Board Distinguished Service Award

The Award recognizes individuals who have provided exemplary leadership and distinguished service to the Transportation Research Board. The recipient should be someone whose sustained contributions and commitment have had a significant and lasting impact on the mission and activities of TRB over the course of their service.

Created in 1972, the Award was known as the Highway Research Board Distinguished Service Award until 1974 when it was renamed the Transportation Research Board Distinguished Service Award to correspond to the change in the Board's name. In January 1987, the Executive Committee renamed this award the W. N. Carey, Jr., Transportation Research Board Distinguished Service Award in honor of W. N. Carey, Jr., who served as the Board's director from 1967 until 1980.

Who Can Nominate

Any individual who is currently or has previously been active in the transportation research or research implementation fields.

Nomination Process

The nomination portal will open in early June. All nominations must be submitted no later than July 31. A single nomination may be jointly submitted and supported by multiple nominators; however, nominators must designate a corresponding nominator. All nominators must currently be, or have previously been, active in the transportation research or research implementation fields.

Nominators will be expected to summarize information about their candidate in each of the following areas: (1) relevant contributions and accomplishments; (2) record of service to the profession; and (3) scope of achievements and enduring influence.

Summary information for each of the three areas may not exceed 400 words, for a total of no more than 1,200 words per nomination. Nominators will have the option to upload their candidate’s bio or provide a link to an online version. Nominators may submit more than one candidate per nomination cycle, and the submission form allows candidates to be considered for more than one award. Current TRB staff are not eligible to receive this award.

Nominators will be notified once a decision has been made by the selection committee. The award recipient will be notified in October, with a formal announcement released later in the fall. The award is dated for the year in which the recipient is named and is presented at the Chair’s Plenary Session during the January TRB Annual Meeting.

Selection Committee

The Selection Committee will consist of the Chair and Vice Chair of the TRB Executive Committee, Chair and Vice Chair of the TRB Division Committee, and the Executive Director of TRB.

Former Recipients

2025 - Wayne Kittelson
2024 - Chandra R. Bhat
2023 - John M. Mason, Jr.
2022 - Neil Pedersen
2021 - Vincent Valdes
2020 - Martha Grabowski
2019 - Frederick G. (Bud) Wright
2018 - Susan Hanson
2017 - Michael F. Trentacoste
2016 - H.G. (Gerry) Schwartz, Jr.
2015 - Kirk T. Steudle
2014 - Katherine F. Turnbull
2013 - Harold R. Paul
2012 - John C. Horsley
2011 - Adib K. Kanafani
2010 - Debra L. (Deb) Miller
2009 - David L. Huft
2008 - Michael D. Meyer
2007 - Alan E. Pisarski
2006 - Anne Canby
2005 - Genevieve Giuliano
2004 - A. Ray Chamberlain
2003 - E. Dean Carlson
2002 - Martin Wachs
2001 - Lillian C. Borrone
2000 - Sharon D. Banks
1999 - William W. Millar
1998 - C. Michael Walton
1997 - Charles E. Dougan
1996 - Louis J. Gambaccini
1995 - Lawrence D. Dahms
1994 - Thomas B. Deen
1993 - John Gray
1992 - Thomas D. Larson
1991 - Lester A. Hoel
1990 - Carlton C. Robinson
1989 - Francis B. Francois
1988 - Milton Pikarsky
1987 - Joseph M. Clapp
1986 - Lester P. Lamm
1985 - Darrell V Manning
1984 - Charley V. Wootan
1983 - Henrik E. Stafseth
1982 - Peter G. Koltnow
1981 - Philip R. Handler (posthumously)
1980 - Ronald W. Pulling
1979 - Robert N. Hunter
1978 - Roy C. Edgerton
1977 - William J. Harris, Jr.
1976 - Ernst Weber
1975 - Robert O. Swain
1974 - Jesse E. Buchanan
1973 - James C. Allen
1972 - Oscar T. Marzke