Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Pacific honored Wayne Hanaoka and Capt. Nicholas Leinweber as the top 2026 Engineers of the Year.
Civilian Engineer of the Year recipient Wayne Hanaoka oversees three of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s largest military construction efforts, totaling approximately $1.5 billion over the past year as design manager and engineer-in-responsible charge while also leading a major power resiliency initiative in Guam after Typhoon Mawar to strengthen electrical infrastructure and improve continuity during extreme weather events.
“Wayne has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams through some of the most complex infrastructure challenges in the Pacific,” said NAVFAC Pacific Chief Engineer Marc Wong in a press release. “His leadership directly strengthens the reliability, resilience and long-term readiness of our most critical defense systems. Wayne’s ability to translate strategic requirements into executable engineering solutions is unmatched and his work ensures our facilities are prepared to support the mission today and well into the future.”
Military Engineer of the Year recipient Capt. Nicholas Leinweber led infrastructure execution supporting the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and oversaw a $940-million project delivery under the Pacific Deterrence Initiative. He also integrated NAVFAC Pacific engineering capabilities into operational exercises and expanded collaboration with industry partners.
“Nick fundamentally changed how we execute engineering in support of the warfighter in contingency,” said NAVFAC Pacific Deputy Commander for Operations Capt. Stephen Padhi in the release. “Through innovation, disciplined coordination and decisive leadership, he expanded our readiness and response posture well beyond previous norms. Nick’s leadership directly enhanced joint readiness and allied integration throughout the Indo-Pacific, and his work will have [a] long-lasting impact on how the Navy brings engineer forces to bear in a joint operational theater.”
Hanaoka and Leinweber were selected from the NAVAC Pacific area of operations’ top engineering talent based on an evaluation of their professional achievements and technical expertise.
