BALTIMORE —  Jeffrey W. Edwards, CPD, GPD, chief of plumbing and fire protection engineering with Mueller Associates, recently accepted a National Award of Merit from the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) on behalf of the Baltimore ASPE chapter. Edwards was presented with the award at the 2019 ASPE Technical Symposium in Pittsburgh in October.

For the past three years, Edwards has served as president of the Baltimore ASPE chapter, overseeing strategic planning for the organization as well as local events and educational opportunities related to plumbing and fire protection engineering. In June 2019, Edwards was honored with ASPE’s Region 1 Director’s Award in recognition of his performance in providing local members with value-added educational programs, membership outreach efforts, and expansion and promotion of ASPE programs.

Under his leadership, the chapter has grown to include an ASPE Young Professionals (AYP) liaison and a Women of ASPE liaison with numerous events organized for both groups. In the spring of 2019, Edwards helped organize a National Engineers Week event at the Baltimore Engineers Club that drew approximately 40 high school students interested in learning about the profession. The Baltimore chapter also hosted a pipe assembly event earlier this year at a local plumbing steamfitters’ union to provide hands-on experience for young engineers.

Other Mueller Associates engineers involved with the Baltimore chapter of ASPE include Karen Schulte, P.E., CPD, who serves on the chapter’s board of directors and as the Women of ASPE Liaison, and Chuck Swope, P.E., CPD, who is technical vice president.

Edwards has been with Mueller Associates for nearly 35 years and has more than 50 years of industry experience. He specializes in the design of plumbing and fire protection systems, including domestic water distribution, sanitary waste, stormwater piping, sprinkler systems, and medical gas and vacuum systems. His registrations include Certified in Plumbing Design and Green Plumbing Design. Edwards’ recent projects include the modernization of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

“Jeff has long been an advocate for the plumbing and fire protection profession, both through his association leadership and his role as a mentor within our firm,” said Robert Marino, P.E., LEED AP, president and chairman of the board of Mueller Associates. “We are proud of the active roles that he, Karen, and Chuck have taken in ASPE’s Baltimore Chapter and the growth that this organization is experiencing.”

The American Society of Plumbing Engineers is an international organization for professionals skilled in the design, specification, and inspection of plumbing systems. ASPE is dedicated to the advancement of the science of plumbing engineering, to the professional growth and advancement of its members and the health, welfare, and safety of the public. Founded in 1964, the organization has more than 6,300 members. For more information, visit www.aspe.org.