Carnegie Mellon University

Wayne Balta

February 07, 2019

Balta Elected to National Academy of Engineering

CEE alum Wayne Balta (BS '82) was recently elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE)—one of the highest distinctions that a professional engineer may receive.

NAE membership honors individuals who have made significant contributions to engineering research, practice, or education. Balta was commended for advancing corporate environmental sustainability practices worldwide.

Balta is the vice president of Corporate Environmental Affairs and Product Safety at IBM, leading the organization’s initiative to utilize electricity from renewable resources. Under his watch, IBM has reduced CO2 emissions by 42% over the past 14 years.  

NAE membership is one of the many industry accolades Balta has received during his career. He’s a 2012 White House Champion of Change—selected for his work to advance corporate environmental sustainability. And in 2018, he received the prestigious National Association for Environmental Management (NAEM) Lifetime Achievement Award for his many contributions to the environmental health and safety field.

Balta is a sought-after expert in the field and collaborates with organizations including the Environmental Law Institute, the World Environment Center, and The Conference Board.

In a recent interview with CEE, Balta credited his education for helping him to succeed in the engineering field. “My civil engineering background has been extremely valuable. I rely on it all the time,” he said. Balta received the Carnegie Mellon Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2009, is currently IBM’s Partnership Executive for the university, and serves a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Engineering.

NAE elected 86 members and 18 foreign members in 2019, bringing the total membership to 2,297 nationally and 272 internationally. Balta and the other elected members will be formally inducted at NAE’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. on October 6, 2019.