2025 COLLEGE OF FELLOWS INDUCTEE

“This is definitely a highlight of my career and a fantastic achievement. I am humbled and honored to be recognized in this way. Being a Fellow of ACEC means a great deal as it represents a lifetime of career work supporting a great good.”

Ben Lilly is President of Mason & Hanger, the nation’s longest operating architecture and engineering firm, with a nearly 200-year history of serving the U.S. Government. As a transformational leader, Mr. Lilly oversees all aspects of the firm’s business, dedicated to providing architectural and engineering (A/E) services specializing in the worldwide design of secure, mission-driven facilities. Under his leadership, the firm continues to expand its global presence and mission of Building a More Secure World® through their important work in the United States and overseas.

Prior to assuming his role as President, Ben was Senior Vice President of the International Programs market, tasked with pursuing and managing contracts overseas, primarily with Department of State Bureau of Overseas Operations. Over the course of 15 years, he sold and managed more than $100 million in engineering services for embassies and consulates worldwide. While director, Ben traveled to over 30 different countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Jordan, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, Cambodia, Kosovo, Indonesia, Somalia and Saudi Arabia. He has personally worked with and managed the design for high profile and critically important diplomatic programs for the Department of State in each of these countries. Many of these projects were recognized for engineering excellence. The Brazzaville, Congo, Embassy was the first in Africa to receive LEED Gold certification.

Ben began his career as a civil engineer in 1993 after graduation from Virginia Military Institute. He is a former president of American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Virginia and is an Eagle Scout.