ASCE COPRI Honors Gayle Johnson for Excellence in Harbor and Coastal Engineering
The American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute (COPRI) honored Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) Senior Principal Gayle Johnson with the 2026 John G. Moffatt–Frank E. Nichol Harbor and Coastal Engineering Award, one of the institute’s highest honors. The award recognizes Gayle’s four decades of expertise in seismic engineering, project leadership, and contributions to advancing industry standards in harbor and coastal engineering. He will be formally recognized during the Ports ’28 Conference, which takes place in Mobile, AL, from 22–25 May 2028.
I’ve had the great fortune of working with extremely talented colleagues on interesting projects as well as collaborating with industry leaders with the common goal of improving the resilience and performance of harbor and coastal infrastructure. And we managed to have some fun along the way.
Established in 1977, the award honors innovative ideas and concepts that advance engineering and construction practices for harbor and coastal projects, benefiting both the profession and the public.
“I am honored to receive this award and grateful to have contributed to the work of ASCE COPRI and the broader engineering community,” said Gayle. “I’ve had the great fortune of working with extremely talented colleagues on interesting projects as well as collaborating with industry leaders with the common goal of improving the resilience and performance of harbor and coastal infrastructure. And we managed to have some fun along the way.”
Gayle has forty-five years of experience providing seismic engineering expertise for the marine and oil and gas industries. He has led key industry efforts, including serving as committee chairman and primary editor for the first edition of ASCE’s Guidelines for Seismic Evaluation and Design of Petrochemical Facilities and as chairman of ASCE 61, the Standards Committee on Seismic Design of Piers and Wharves. Gayle has investigated the performance of industrial facilities in more than twenty earthquakes worldwide, including as a lead investigator for the U.S. team sponsored by FEMA and the National Science Foundation immediately following the 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Turkey in 1999. His recognitions include ASCE’s Stephen D. Bechtel Energy Award and an honorary membership in ASCE COPRI’s Ports and Harbors Committee.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Gayle for many years, and his impact on our profession, and on the people around him, is extraordinary,” said William Bruin, Executive Principal, Structural Engineering, West. “Gayle brings a rare combination of technical depth, quiet confidence, and a genuine passion for advancing our industry. I’ve seen firsthand how his leadership in seismic design and his commitment to advancing industry standards have shaped not only our work but that of the broader ports and harbors engineering community. He has a unique ability to bring people together around complex challenges, foster thoughtful collaboration, and guide teams toward meaningful, lasting contributions. This recognition is a well-deserved acknowledgment of a career defined by leadership, mentorship, and enduring impact on harbor and coastal engineering.”
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