Deborah L. Grubbe (BSChE ’77, HDR 2010)

Deborah L. Grubbe (BSChE ’77, HDR 2010), owner and president of Operations and Safety Solutions, Inc., has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Ted C. Kennedy Award and Medal by the National Academy of Construction (NAC). The award, the Academy’s highest honor, will be presented to Grubbe at the NAC Annual Meeting on Oct. 30 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Named in honor of Ted C. Kennedy, the late founder of BE&K — a global engineering and construction firm — the award recognizes exceptional leadership and a lifetime of achievements in engineering. The criteria for the honor reflect Kennedy’s commitment to safety, integrity, innovation, ethics and leadership in the industry, as well as a deep dedication to people and the community.

Grubbe’s distinguished career spans over three decades, with notable contributions in engineering management, safety leadership and operational turnarounds within the process industries. Previously, she served as Vice President of Group Safety at BP and had a long career at DuPont. She is also a past president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and is currently the national president of the United Engineering Foundation (UEF).

She was named a Purdue Distinguished Engineering Alumna in 2002 and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2010. Her career includes significant achievements in safety, including her work with NASA following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, which earned her the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal in 2012.

Reflecting on the legacy of Ted C. Kennedy, Grubbe said, “His commitment to people and his focus on safety serve as a model for business leaders everywhere. My interactions with him make this award even more meaningful.”

NAC Chair Christine Keville praised Grubbe for her exceptional contributions. “Deb has elevated the standards of safety, service and engineering excellence across our industry. Her unwavering commitment, from transforming practices at DuPont and BP to advising NASA in one of its most challenging chapters, reflects the very qualities the Ted C. Kennedy Award was created to honor.”

Edd Gibson, CEO of the NAC, further emphasized Grubbe’s impact on the industry. “Deb has saved countless lives and set a high bar for safety practices. Her career provides a great role model for future engineers, and her dedication to advancing our profession makes her an incredibly deserving recipient of this honor.”

Grubbe joins an esteemed group of past recipients of the Ted C. Kennedy Award, including Ted C. Kennedy himself, James L. Lammie, Richard L. Tucker, and others who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to engineering and construction.

(Source: Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering)