ASHRAE Celebrates Outstanding Member Contributions at 2026 Winter Conference
Key Highlights
- The F. Paul Anderson Award was presented to Chandra Sekhar for outstanding services in HVACR, recognizing technical achievement at the highest level;
- The Society also inducted Ron Jarnagin and Kenneth Loudermilk into the ASHRAE Hall of Fame for their milestone contributions to technology;
- Darryl Boyce received the Distinguished Public Service Award for his community service and efforts to enhance the public image of engineers;
- Twenty-four members were elevated to ASHRAE Fellow, recognizing their contributions across education, research, engineering, and leadership;
- The YEA Inspirational Leader Award was given to Alekhya Kaianathbhatta for her exceptional contributions as a young engineer in the industry.
LAS VEGAS (February 1, 2026) – Atlanta-based ASHRAE today honored members whose leadership, innovation, and service have made a lasting impact on the Society and the built environment. Recognized at its 2026 Winter Conference, held in Las Vegas, the honorees highlight the distinct ways ASHRAE members advance building performance, sustainability, and the HVAC&R profession worldwide.
Here is the complete list of 2026 awards and recipients:
F. Paul Anderson Award
Chandra Sekhar, Fellow Life Member ASHRAE, received this award, which is ASHRAE's highest technical achievement given for notable achievement of outstanding services performed in the HVAC&R field. Sekhar is a professor, National University of Singapore, College of Design and Engineering, Department of the Built Environment, Singapore.
ASHRAE Hall of Fame
Ron Jarnagin, Presidential Fellow Life Member ASHRAE (1946-2024), and Kenneth Loudermilk, Life Member ASHRAE (1954-2023), were inducted into the ASHRAE Hall of Fame. The ASHRAE Hall of Fame honors deceased members of the Society who have made milestone contributions to the growth of ASHRAE-related technology or the development of ASHRAE as a society.
ASHRAE Distinguished Public Service Award
Darryl Boyce, P.Eng., Presidential Fellow Life Member ASHRAE, received the ASHRAE Distinguished Public Service Award. The award recognizes a member of the Society who has performed outstanding public service in their community, and in doing so, has helped to improve the public image of the engineer. Boyce is the owner of Boyce Consulting Services, Kemptville, Ontario, Canada.
Fellow ASHRAE
Fellow ASHRAE is a membership grade that recognizes members who have attained distinction and made substantial contributions in HVAC&R and the built environment, such as education, research, engineering design and consultation, publications, presentations, and mentoring. The Society elevated 24 members to the grade of Fellow:
- Omar Abdelaziz, Ph.D., Associate Professor, The American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt;
- Amanda Bogner, BEMP, Vice President, Catalyst Partners, Omaha, NE;
- Lianne Cockerton, P.Eng. Director of Sustainable Development, Martin Roy and Associates, Deux-Montagnes, Quebec, Canada;
- Lorenzo Cremaschi, Professor & Director Undergraduate Research, Auburn University, Auburn, AL;
- Abdel Kader Darwich, HFDP, Principal, Guttmann and Blaevoet Consulting Engineers, Sacramento, CA;
- Steven J. DiFlora, P.E., Life Member ASHRAE, Senior Executive Director, MG Engineering, D.P.C., New York, NY;
- Mahroo Eftekhari, Professor, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom;
- Kenneth M. Fulk, P.E., Life Member ASHRAE, Principal Emeritus, RWB Consulting Engineers, Dallas, TX;
- Christopher Gray, Ph.D., P.E., CDP, CEO, EcoSmart Solution, Atlanta, GA;
- Gregor P. Henze, Ph.D., P.E., Professor of Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO;
- Satish N. Iyengar, Proprietor, Services Consultants, Bangalore, India;
- Amir Jokaracey Jumper, Global Director of Data Center Commissioning, Microsoft, Palm Springs, CA;
- Michael J. Langton, P.E., Life Member ASHRAE, Langton Energy Engineering Services, LLC, Montgomery, TX;
- Phil Naughton, Life Member ASHRAE, Principal/Owner, Eco Cleanroom HVAC Consulting, Austin, TX;
- Alan Neely, Senior Regional Sales Manager, Owens Corning FOAMGLAS® Insulation, Texas;
- Bruce I. Nelson, Life Member ASHRAE, CEO, Bruce V. Nelson Engineering LLC, Colville, WA;
- Clay Nesler, Life Member ASHRAE, Founder, The Nesler Group, Fort Myers, FL;
- Daniel C. Pettway, Life Member ASHRAE, Retired, Chesapeake, VA;
- Carsten Rode, Professor, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark;
- Richard W. Trent, Life Member ASHRAE, Chairman of the Board, Carolina Heat Pipe Inc., Johns Island, SC;
- Thanos Tzempelikos, Professor of Civil and Construction Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN;
- James W. VanGilder, Data Center CFD Senior Expert, Schneider Electric, Andover, MA;
- Mack Wallace, Life Member ASHRAE, Global Practice Director-Federal Mechanical, Jacobs, Fort Worth, TX.
YEA Inspirational Leader Award
Alekhya Kaianathbhatta received the YEA Inspirational Leader Award. The award recognizes a Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA) member who has gone above and beyond to make considerable contributions to the industry and community. Kaianathbhatta is an associate at The HIDI Group, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Milton W. Garland Refrigeration Award
Nasser A. Karimzadeh received the Milton W. Garland Refrigeration Award, recognizing the designer and owner of a commercial or industrial refrigeration application that demonstrates innovation and advancement in the field. The award considers innovation and excellence in technology, application, advanced design, project practices and operation. Karimzadeh is Chief Industrial Refrigeration Engineer, VaCom Technology, Oakwood, GA.
John F. James International Award
John Constantinide received the John F. James International Award, recognizing an ASHRAE member who has done the most to enhance the Society's international presence or posture. Constantinide is a Range Mechanical Engineer, U.S. Space Force, Patrick Space Force Base, FL.
E.K. Campbell Award of Merit
Carey Simonson received the E.K. Campbell Award of Merit. The award honors an individual for outstanding service and achievement in teaching and is presented by the Life Members Club. Simonson is with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Award of Engineering Excellence
The Award of Engineering Excellence was created in 1989 to recognize the first-place winner of the Society-level Technology Award competition for an outstanding application of innovative design and effective energy utilization. The recipient of the Award of Engineering Excellence will have demonstrated the best overall compliance with the judging criteria.
- Kunita Shindo, P.E., and Shun Kawakubo, Dr.Eng., new industrial facilities or process category, OKI Honjo Plant H1 Factory, Saitama, Japan. The building is owned by OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
The ASHRAE Technology Awards
The ASHRAE Technology Awards recognize outstanding achievements by ASHRAE members who have successfully applied innovative building designs. Their designs incorporate ASHRAE standards for effective energy management and indoor air quality and serve to communicate innovative systems design. Winning projects are selected from entries earning regional awards.
About the Author
Karen Buckley Washington
Based in the Atlanta area, Karen Buckley Washington is ASHRAE's Senior Public Relations Specialist, [email protected].
Founded in 1894, ASHRAE is a global professional society committed to serve humanity by advancing the arts and sciences of heating ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and their allied fields. As an industry leader in research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE and its members are dedicated to promoting a healthy and sustainable built environment for all, through strategic partnerships with organizations in the HVAC&R community and across related industries.