Order of the Engineer Ceremony

Infrastructure is one of the most powerful forces in our lives. It can define the interactions of a community and the legacy of a city.

On July 20, 2018 the American Society of Civil Engineers Los Angeles Younger Members Forum (ASCE LA YMF) conducted it's first Order of the Engineer Ceremony with over 50 participants. The Ceremony was held at City Hall’s Tom Bradley Tower overlooking downtown Los Angeles with guest speakers Howard Lum, P.E., S.E., Gary Lee Moore, P.E., ENV.SP., and Assemblywoman Luz Rivas. Additionally, Mayor Eric Garcetti recorded a special message to ceremony participants and guests.

The purpose of the Order of the Engineer is to call attention to the obligation of all engineers to use their technical knowledge responsibly and ethically in shaping the world around them. Inductees are to wear the engineering ring on the small finger of the dominant hand as a reminder of the obligation. The engineer's ring is a symbol of the strength and zeal to the profession; an acknowledgment to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the public. Every time an engineer is responsible for overseeing a construction project, approving a set of plans, contract documents, or design specifications, they are obligated to ensure the work is accurate. Engineering requires the highest standards of personal integrity. The success of engineering projects and the lives of people do depend on it.

Tomorrow's infrastructure design must be better than today. The ceremony is an outstanding opportunity for engineers to pause from ongoing personal and work activities to reflect upon the responsibility to design and implement safe, functional, sustainable design.

Since August 2003, ASCE has led more than 250 Order of the Engineer Ceremonies inspiring over 5,400 participants.