The Society of Fire Protection Engineers has announced its 2026 class of Fellows and award recipients, recognizing individuals whose work has contributed to fire protection engineering, fire safety science, education, service and professional leadership.
SFPE 2026 Fellows announced
Fellow membership is the highest professional honor awarded by SFPE and is reserved for members who have achieved significant accomplishments and stature in the field of fire protection engineering.
- Kevin L. Biando, PE, FSFPE, The Biando Group, LLC
- W.C. (Chuck) Boyte, MS, PE, CFPS, FSFPE, Sompo International
- Dr. Danny Hopkin, MEng, EngD, CEng, FIFireE, FIMechE, FSFPE, OFR Consultants
- Shaun Kelly, PEng, CEng, IntPE, EUR ING, FSFPE, Arencon Inc..
- Alana MacLellan-Bonnell, MScFPE, PEng, FSFPE, Jensen Hughes
- Nicholas E. Ozog, FSFPE, Wiss Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
- Michael Strömgren, MSc, BSc, FSFPE, Bricon
- Dr. Arnaud Trouvé, FSFPE, University of Maryland
- Craig M. Vesely, PE, FSFPE, Affliated Engineers, Inc
SFPE 5 Under 35 recipients recognized
SFPE also named its 2026 5 Under 35 recipients, an award that recognizes emerging leaders who are contributing to the fire protection engineering profession and the wider community.
- Ahmed F. Alrashdi, Saudi Aramco
- Alexandra Schraiber, PMSFPE, UL
- Paul Horne, PhD, University of Canterbury
- Ruiqing Shen, PhD, Oklahoma State University
- Saleel Anthrathodiyil, PE, CFPS, MIFireE, PMSFPE, Telgian Engineering & Consulting
Annual SFPE award winners for 2026
The society confirmed ten additional award recipients for 2026, covering honors for professional recognition, education, mentoring, committee service, spotlight achievements and top abstract recognition.
- Beth Tubbs, PE, FSFPE, ICC, recipient of the SFPE Ahern President’s Award
- Noah L. Ryder, PhD, Fire & Risk Alliance, LLC, recipient of the SFPE Trailblazer Award
- Patrick van Hees, PhD, Lund University, recipient of the SFPE Lund Award for Professional Recognition
- Virginia R. Charter, PhD, PE, FSFPE, Oklahoma State University, recipient of the SFPE Lucht Award for Contributions to Education
- Beth Weckman, PEng, University of Waterloo, recipient of the SFPE Bryan Mentoring Award
- Stephen Dale, PE, CFPS, ARM, The Cincinnati Insurance Companies, recipient of the SFPE Jensen Award for Outstanding Committee Service
- Simón Santamaria MSc, PhD, CEng, MIFireE, MSFPE, Santec Consulting, recipient of the SFPE Spotlight Award
- Daniel Gorham, PE, PMSFPE, UL FSRI, recipient of the SFPE Spotlight Award
- Nicholas E. Ozog, PE, FSFPE, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc., recipient of the 2026 SFPE Annual Conference Top Abstract Award
- Kyle Christiansen, PE, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc., recipient of the 2026 SFPE Annual Conference Top Abstract Award
Chris Jelenewicz, PE, FSFPE, Chief Executive Officer of SFPE, said the organization recognizes members each year whose achievements have made a lasting impact on fire protection engineering and the global safety community.
He said the honorees are advancing science and technology that helps reduce fire risks worldwide, and commended their leadership, expertise and dedication to the profession and to SFPE.
The awards will be presented by Shamim Rashid-Sumar, PE, FSFPE, SFPE President, during the SFPE Annual Conference & Expo in Atlanta, Georgia, from October 6-8, 2026. Registration for the event is available at www.sfpe.org/annual26. Nominations for the society’s 2027 class of Fellows and award recipients are expected to open in early 2027.
