Paul F. Mlakar, a registered professional engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineer Research and Development Center, has received the American Society of Civil Engineers’ highest honor.

Mlakar was named a Distinguished Member of the ASCE for his work in forensic civil engineering.

Mlakar participated in the investigation of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, led an ASCE team during the 9/11 Pentagon building performance study and led the Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force assessing performance of the New Orleans hurricane protection system after Hurricane Katrina.

Mlakar graduated second in his class from the U.S. Military Academy. He has a master’s degree and a doctorate in engineering science from Purdue University.