Trenchless Technology Magazine Announces its 2026 Person of the Year
Trenchless Technology magazine is pleased to announce the recipient of its 2026 Trenchless Technology Person of the Year award: Trenchless engineer and advocate Dr. Jason Lueke, Ph.D., P.Eng.
For nearly 25 years, Lueke has been a driving force in the North American trenchless industry. He began as a student and evolved from a contractor to an educator and consulting trenchless engineer. Lueke has held this role for the past 17 years. He currently serves as the National Discipline Leader for trenchless technology at Associated Engineering, a Canadian consulting firm. At Associated Engineering, he has played a pivotal role on several of the firm’s most complex and award-winning projects.
Beyond his engineering achievements, Lueke is a tireless advocate for the industry. He actively supports numerous professional associations and organizations. Also, he mentors young professionals and students, and generously volunteers his time to help elevate the trenchless industry to new heights.
“I have known Jason Lueke for the entirety of his trenchless career — from his early days as a student to his emergence as a leader within the trenchless engineering community — and there is no better choice for this year’s Trenchless Technology Person of the Year,” says Editor Sharon M. Bueno. “Jason embodies the spirit of a true trenchless advocate and innovator. His expertise, intellect and enthusiasm have helped advance the industry in meaningful ways. On behalf of the Trenchless Technology magazine team, we proudly congratulate Jason on this well-earned honor.”
The Trenchless Technology Person of the Year award – established in 1993 – is considered the most prestigious annual trenchless industry award.
A Career Defined by Trenchless
When notified of his Person of the Year selection, Lueke was taken aback by the news, and genuinely appreciative.
“I am truly honored and grateful for this recognition. Trenchless technology has defined my career, and I would not be here today without the mentors, colleagues, and professional community who helped shape my path,” says Lueke. “It is meaningful to be recognized alongside the many leaders who have contributed to the trenchless profession before me. Their work laid the foundation for the industry we have today, and I’m proud to be part of that legacy.”
In his role at Associated Engineering, Lueke leads and supports the firm’s trenchless technology discipline nationally. He provides expert advisory support on complex and technically challenging projects. Additionally, he chairs the Linear Infrastructure Community of Practice, which coordinates education and professional development opportunities across the Infrastructure Practice.
Moreover, he serves as Chair of the firm-wide Technical Competency Management Subcommittee. He oversees the development and implementation of technical career pathways and competency-based training programs across all disciplines. This support is essential for staff development and long-term career progression.
Before joining Associated Engineering, Lueke served as a construction manager for a utility and trenchless contractor and was a professor at Arizona State University. As noted, Lueke provided his expertise on several award-winning, standout projects across Canada at Associated Engineering.
Serving the Industry
Among his volunteer service over more than 20 years, Lueke has served on the Board of the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT). He chaired the Northwest Chapter of NASTT (in Edmonton and Calgary) and the Western Chapter of NASTT. He served on the Board of Directors for the Centre for the Advancement of Trenchless Technologies (CATT) in Canada. Additionally, he served on the Executive Committee of the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) Pipelines Division. He currently serves on the Executive Council of the Canadian Underground Infrastructure Innovation Centre (CUIIC). Also, he serves on the Editorial Board of Trenchless Technology Canada magazine.
His involvement has included working with student chapters and organizing trenchless symposiums across both Canada and the United States. He was the founding President of the NASTT Student Chapter at the University of Alberta. Lueke has also been a long-time volunteer instructor for NASTT, teaching the Lateral Sewer Rehabilitation, Horizontal Directional Drilling, and Pipe Bursting Good Practices courses. In addition, he has published more than 80 journal and conference papers related to trenchless design and construction. He co-authored the second edition of NASTT’s Lateral Good Practices Guidelines book.
The magazine will formally recognize Lueke for this honor on Monday, March 30, at NASTT’s 2026 No-Dig Show at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, California.
About the Award
The Trenchless Technology Person of the Year has been awarded annually since 1993 to individuals representing significant recent achievement and lifetime achievement, and who have exhibited outstanding leadership in the advancement of trenchless technology. It is determined by a selection committee comprised of industry professionals and spearheaded by Trenchless Technology managing editor Mike Kezdi.
