ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI — Breck Washam, PE, F.NSPE, has been elected Vice President of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). Washam is senior vice president and general manager of the Midwest Region for Burns & McDonnell, a 100% employee-owned engineering, architecture and construction firm. NSPE is a professional association representing and advocating for licensed Professional Engineers in the United States with over 500 local chapters.

“This is a tremendous honor to serve as the NSPE vice president to help foster licensed professional engineers in service to society,” Washam says. “After many years supporting NSPE, Missouri Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) and the MSPE St. Louis Chapter, this new role will allow me to serve and advocate for professional engineers across the country and to raise the profile of professional engineers and promote the value of engineering licensure in protecting the public’s health, safety, and welfare.”

Washam started as a mechanical engineer with Burns & McDonnell in 1990 after graduating from Missouri University of Science and Technology. Taking the lead of the St. Louis office in 2007, he has grown the office from 100 employees to more than 350 employees and launched new offices in Columbus and Akron, Ohio, in 2017 and 2020, respectively. The St. Louis office has been recognized as a Top Workplace, a Healthiest Employer, a leading philanthropic firm, and one of the largest engineering firms in St. Louis.

“Breck is passionate about excellence in engineering and invests so much in so many,” says Leslie M. Duke, PE, chair and CEO, Burns & McDonnell. “Breck’s focus on mentoring professional engineers to help them reach their full potential has impacted hundreds of careers, and his continued dedication to STEM education supports the next generation of engineers.”

In addition to supporting STEM education, Washam dedicates himself to several charities, including serving as the Annual Heart Walk chairperson for the American Heart Association of Greater St. Louis and on the board of directors for Youth in Need.

“It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome Breck as our new vice president,” says NSPE President Brian Malm, PE, F.NSPE. “His unwavering dedication to the principles of professional engineering and his exemplary leadership will be invaluable as we work to strengthen our society’s impact. I look forward to the vision and guidance he will bring to our team.”

Washam has held numerous NSPE positions at the local and state levels, including president of the St. Louis Chapter from 2005 to 2006 and president of Missouri State Society from 2015 to 2016. His most recent national roles include serving as the NSPE Membership Committee chairperson since 2022 and the North Central regional director for the NSPE board of directors from 2020 to 2022. In this new role, Washam will focus on advancing NSPE through increasing membership engagement at all levels and amplifying the public recognition of the value of competent and ethical engineering.

About Burns & McDonnell

Working from more than 75 offices around the world, Burns & McDonnell designs and builds critical infrastructure. Our family of companies — driven by engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists — deliver projects grounded in safety and a desire to make a difference as we make our clients successful. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned. Learn more.

About the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

Founded in 1934, the National Society of Professional Engineers supports over 500,000 professional engineers and the public by fostering licensed professional engineers in service to society, ensuring the public can be confident that engineering decisions affecting their lives are made by qualified and ethically accountable professionals. Through education, licensure advocacy, leadership training, multidisciplinary networking, and outreach, NSPE enhances the image of professional engineers and their ability to ethically and professionally practice engineering. For more information, please visit www.nspe.org.