U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), a staunch advocate of national science and technology programs and influential player behind the America COMPETES Act, has received the prestigious President’s Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

ASME President Marc W. Goldsmith presented the award to Alexander following the Republican senator’s remarks to the Society’s 2013 Engineering Public Policy Symposium held on April 23 in Washington, D.C. The award cites Alexander for “leadership in advancing the engineering, science and technology enterprise which is so vital to this nation.”

Senator Alexander helped to write the America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science) Act of 2007 and was instrumental in its reauthorization in 2010. Among numerous efforts supporting science and technology, Alexander secured emergency funding to continue the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Project. He was named the 2008 Champion of Science by the Science Coalition.

Established in 1998, the ASME President’s Award is presented to individuals and companies who have demonstrated significant contributions to the engineering profession. Senator Alexander joins a distinguished group of past recipients, including former NASA administrator Daniel S. Goldin; Dean Kaman, the founder of For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST); Westinghouse Electric Company; U.S. Naval Academy, and the Apollo 11 astronauts, among others.