The Pioneer Award honors individuals who have played a pivotal role in advancing the composites industry through hands-on innovation, technical expertise, and dedication to excellence. This award recognizes the unsung heroes—the engineers, technicians, craftsmen, and problem-solvers—who have made lasting contributions through their work, often behind the scenes.
This award is sponsored by Composites One
Lei Zhao Biography
With 30 years of experience in the composites industry spanning academia, engineering, product development, and manufacturing, Lei Zhao, Ph.D., P.E., is a recognized leader in advanced composite materials and their applications across infrastructure, transportation, energy, marine, and industrial markets. Throughout his career, Lei has combined deep technical expertise with practical business insight to drive innovation, develop high-performance material solutions, and mentor the next generation of engineering professionals.
Since 2014, Lei has served as Senior Technology Manager within the Advanced Composites Division of Avient Corporation. In this role, he leads the development, design, and testing of composite material solutions for a wide range of applications. His work is centered on creating customized material solutions that address complex customer requirements while delivering measurable commercial value. Equally committed to organizational growth, he places strong emphasis on developing technical talent and cultivating business acumen among engineering teams, helping align technical innovation with long-term business success.
Prior to joining Avient, Lei spent six years with Gibraltar Industries, where he led the design and fabrication of FRP structures, pultrusion process development, and tooling design. He later expanded his responsibilities to include new product development for both metal and composite products, as well as manufacturing technology development.
Lei began his professional career in academia, holding research and faculty appointments at the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Central Florida. His research focused on the application of fiber-reinforced composites in civil infrastructure systems, advancing the understanding and implementation of composite technologies in construction and structural engineering. As an educator, he taught courses in structural engineering, mechanics, and composite materials.
Lei is a long-standing member of ACMA and its Pultrusion Council and is actively contributing to the ongoing revision of the ACMA FRP Utility Pole Standard Specifications. He previously served on the FRP Bar Grating Committee.
In addition to his involvement with ACMA, Lei is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and is a registered Professional Engineer. He formerly served as Chair of the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers (NAAMM) Bar Grating Manual MBG 531 Subcommittee. Lei is credited with five patents covering a range of construction materials and composite technologies.
Lei resides in Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife, Mei Chih, who also studied engineering in her youth. Their daughters, Audrey and Charlene, are also engineers.