UTEP Civil Engineering Alumnus Named State’s Young Engineer of the Year

Last Updated on June 08, 2022 at 12:00 AM

Originally published June 08, 2022

By MC Staff

UTEP Marketing and Communications

Daniel Carrera, a 2021 graduate of The University of Texas at El Paso’s Civil Engineering master’s program, was named the 2022 Texas Young Engineer of the Year by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) in recognition of his technical ability, professional achievements and civic and humanitarian efforts.

Daniel Carrera, a 2021 graduate of The University of Texas at El Paso’s Civil Engineering master’s program, was named the 2022 Texas Young Engineer of the Year by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. Photo: Courtesy

Carrera, a senior associate at Walter P Moore in El Paso, will be formally recognized with the honor during the TSPE State Conference taking place June 15-17 in Houston. He is the first El Pasoan to receive the statewide honor from the state society of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) since 1996.

“Winning this award means the world to me,” Carrera said. “It’s been 26 years since an El Pasoan won this award and I’m honored to have been selected out of more than 40 other talented nominees across the state. I’m a proud El Pasoan and UTEP Miner and I will make sure to talk about the abundance of talent in El Paso and at UTEP during my acceptance speech.”

Carrera earned his master’s degree in civil engineering while working as an associate engineer at Walter P Moore, an international company focused on structural, water resources and transportation engineering based in Houston. He is a licensed professional engineer with eight years of experience in traffic, intelligent transportation systems and roadway design projects and is licensed in Texas and New Mexico.

He became eligible for TSPE’s statewide honor after being named the Young Engineer of the Year by the organization’s El Paso Chapter in February 2021. Carrera also won the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) El Paso Branch 2021 Young Civil Engineer of the Year award in February 2022. He will be automatically nominated for the 2023 National NSPE Young Engineer of the Year award next February.

Carrera has contributed to several significant engineering projects in El Paso and throughout the state including the construction of the Loop 375 Border Highway west extension, Dyer Sidewalk improvements, Schuster Drive reconstruction, and multiple traffic, roadway, and illumination projects and studies throughout the city.

In addition to his professional career, Carrera serves a director for the TSPE El Paso Chapter, president of the ASCE El Paso Branch Younger Member Group, and the practitioner advisor for the UTEP ASCE Student Chapter. He is passionate about promoting STEM in the community and presents at area schools to get young El Pasoans excited about pursuing engineering professions. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas Tech University and also holds an associate’s degree from El Paso Community College.