Distinguished Examination Service Award

2026 Award Recipients

The Distinguished Examination Service Award recipients have made outstanding contributions to an NCEES examination program.

Michael Behnke, P.E.

Michael Behnke, P.E., of California, has been awarded the NCEES Distinguished Examination Service Award for his dedicated service to NCEES and the engineering profession. Behnke was recognized on August 20, 2026, during the organization’s 105th annual meeting in Henderson, Nevada.

Behnke began his service to NCEES over 30 years ago as a volunteer to the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Electrical and Computer exam development committee and the Principles and Practice of Engineering Electrical and Computer exam development committee. He has participated in item writing and review, practice exam development, review of the Supplied Reference Handbook, professional activities and knowledge studies, and standard setting. Behnke is currently the vice chair for the FE exam development committee and has served as the module chair for the FE Electrical and Computer team. He is one of the longest-serving contributors in this discipline and exemplifies the values of the organization.

Chun Lau, P.E., S.E.

Chun Lau, P.E., S.E., emeritus member of the Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, has been awarded the NCEES Distinguished Examination Service Award for his dedicated service to NCEES and the engineering profession. Lau was recognized on August 20, 2026, during the organization’s 105th annual meeting in Henderson, Nevada.

Lau has dedicated over two decades to serving NCEES, beginning as a volunteer to the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Structural exam development committee. He has played a pivotal role in exam development, grading, standard setting, and the transition to computer-based testing (CBT), currently aiding the development of Building Depth exams. Lau has served on Structural PAKS, test specification, and standard-setting panels. He also supported Washington’s transition to national licensure standards. He received the NCEES Distinguished Service Award in 2024.

Raymond Prestridge Jr., P.E.

Raymond Prestridge Jr., P.E., of Louisiana, has been awarded the NCEES Distinguished Examination Service Award for his dedicated service to NCEES and the engineering profession. Prestridge was recognized on August 20, 2026, during the organization’s 105th annual meeting in Henderson, Nevada.

Prestridge began his service to NCEES in 2004 as a volunteer to the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Mechanical: Thermal and Fluids Systems exam development committee. During that time, he has served as chair and vice chair to the committee and has served as subcommittee chair and vice chair to the PE Mechanical breadth module group. Additionally, Prestridge volunteered by proctoring the NCEES pencil-and-paper exams at the Fort Worth, Texas, exam site for over a decade. The proctoring provided valuable feedback for his committee work as he was able to observe references, calculators, and examinees.