David P. Brand Safety Award

Award Type: Lifetime achievement recognition award

Geographic Scope: United States

Overview:
Recognizes an individual who has followed in Dave Brand's footsteps, having a positive influence on improving safety on the local, regional, state and national levels. This is a lifetime achievement award and may not be awarded every year. Award established in 2017 at NACE Annual Conference.

Award Significance

NACE prioritizes local road safety. The award recognizes individuals dedicated to keeping citizens and road crews safe through sound science, proven engineering principles, and strong people skills.

About David P. Brand (Award Namesake)

• Background: Madison County Engineer, Ohio; Northeast Vice President for NACE
• Recognition: Honored in 2013 by FHWA Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau for work on the Every Day Counts (ECD) initiative
• Key Achievement: Led 3-year process developing the Safety Edge program involving federal, state and local stakeholders
• National Service: Represented NACE on numerous national roadway safety initiatives including:
  • Center for Excellence in Rural Safety (CERS)
  • National Local Technical Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA) Roadway Safety Working Group
  • Every Day Counts (EDC) Safety Edge Team
  • Toward Zero Deaths (TZD)
  • National Center for Rural Road Safety

Award Presentation

• Winners announced at the 2026 Annual Conference in Arlington, Texas (April 11-14, 2026)
• All nominees encouraged to attend

Important Note

Since this considers lifetime achievements and not discrete projects, the Safety Award may not be awarded every year.

Contact Information

• Organization: National Association of County Engineers
• Phone: 202-393-5041
• Email: nace@countyengineers.org
• Address: 660 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20001
• Website: countyengineers.org
• Awards Committee Chair: John Mark Davis (john.davis@autauga.com)

Application Process

Nominations are now being accepted for 2025. Submit nominee information via the online form on the NACE website.

Required Application Guidelines

Provide detailed discussion on the following:

1. Safety Programs, Policies, Practices, or Infrastructure
   • Discussion of the nominee's application or involvement in safety programs, policies, practices or infrastructure that improve the safety of highway and local road systems
2. Partnership Development
   • Highway safety effectiveness requires collaboration with partners
   • Discuss the nominee's efforts to build local, regional, state or national partnerships to improve safety performance
   • Demonstrate how they join forces to attack safety problems from multiple directions
   • Show how they take advantage of partners' experiences and knowledge
   • Focus on striving to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on highways and local road systems
3. Awareness and Public Communication
   • Discussion of the nominee's dedication to raise awareness of safety initiatives
   • How these initiatives will benefit the public
4. Leadership and Service
   • Leadership or service on local, state or national road safety committees or organizations

Submission Instructions

Submit via online form at countyengineers.org (specific submission link referenced as "HERE" on award page)