SACRAMENTO - Dr. Alberto Ayala, Deputy Director of the California Air Resources Board, has received the Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association (MECA) “Clean Air Award” and will be honored at the organization’s 40th anniversary celebration February 11th in Washington, D.C.

Presented every 10 years, the Clean Air Award pays tribute to individuals who have made significant contributions towards clean air and public health.  Past recipients include Mary Nichols, Dr. Alan Lloyd, Congressman Henry Waxman and many others noted for embracing environmental challenges and helping to pioneer new approaches to solving air quality problems.

“I am deeply honored by this recognition from MECA, an organization of individuals whom I consider peers and highly respect,” said Dr. Ayala.  “I accept this award not only on my behalf, but also on behalf of the Air Resources Board and in light of the tremendous progress we have made cleaning up vehicle emissions over the years in strong partnership with leading technology developers like MECA and its members.”

“Our organization has a long history working with Alberto,” said Dr. Rasto Brezny, Executive Director of MECA.  “We have always valued his straightforward approach as well as his candor and insight into the myriad complex issues surrounding air quality and climate change policy.  He is able to navigate this world with ease and has demonstrated a great talent for applying advanced, futuristic solutions to today’s real world air pollution problems.”

This year’s festivities, celebrating 40 years since the introduction of advanced emission controls on vehicles, will take place at the U.S. Capitol Visitors’ Center.  Also being honored at this event are Christopher Grundler, Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Drew Kodjak, ‎Executive Director at The International Council on Clean Transportation

Dr. Ayala joined ARB in 2000.  Throughout his ARB career, he has held management assignments in a variety of programs, including Carl Moyer incentives, AB 32 early actions , the diesel control program, and vehicle emissions research.  Prior to being appointed Deputy Executive Officer, he served as chief of the Monitoring and Laboratory Division.

In his current capacity, Dr. Ayala oversees the full range of policy, regulatory and research efforts of more than 500 professionals focused on achieving CARB’s goals for clean, zero-emission, and low carbon transportation; state-of-the-art monitoring for air and climate pollution, and a widely recognized motor vehicle emissions and fuels testing program.  Before joining ARB, Dr. Ayala was an engineering professor at West Virginia University, where he now holds an adjunct appointment, and  a design engineer for Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical.  He holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis.  He has published extensively, spoken nationally and internationally, and lectured as a visiting professor in California and abroad.

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Editor’s Note: a photograph of Dr. Ayala is available via pio@arb.ca.gov (mailto:pio@arb.ca.gov)