NC State alum wins New Professional Engineer of the Year award

Charlie Townsend ‘15, ‘21 has dedicated his career to the city he has called home for his entire life. 

In August, his efforts were recognized by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) when he received the organization’s New Professional Engineer of the Year award. The annual award honors a young NSPE member who “has made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession and the community” during the early years of their career.

Townsend is the land development team leader for VHB, where he leads projects that are shaping the landscape of Raleigh’s residential, industrial and commercial sectors — or as he puts it, the places where people live, work and play.

“As someone who affectionately jokes that every school I went to is nearly on the same street right here in Raleigh, being able to give back to the community I grew up in is one of the most rewarding experiences I could ever have imagined,” he said.

If anything equals his passion for giving back to his city, it’s his desire to promote the engineering profession. Townsend is an active volunteer for many organizations in Raleigh, including the Professional Engineers of North Carolina and the College of Engineering’s Young Alumni Advisory Board.

“Volunteering allows me to not only help inspire and encourage the next generation of engineers, but also affords me the ability to utilize my experiences to guide and shape policies for the future of development in the Raleigh area,” he said.

Those two go hand-in-hand as Raleigh is an increasingly attractive place for engineers to live and work. Raleigh was named the nation’s third fastest-growing city earlier this year.

Townsend recognizes the need for smart, sustainable development that provides opportunities for all residents. He knows the city won’t look the same as the one he grew up in, but he hopes that Raleigh’s charm and character is respected as the city grows.

Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin presented Townsend with the award in Raleigh, which was especially meaningful for Townsend, who said he sums up his feelings about the experience with two words: grateful and motivated.

“To be recognized at a national level by such an impactful organization truly shows me that the efforts of myself and so many others are being noticed,” Townsend said.

> Read more about Townsend’s efforts to give back to NC State