SEVEN years ago Prof John Yeaman of Buddina proudly watched as his son received an Australia Day award for service in Afghanistan.

Now he has an honour of his own to add to the family mantelpiece, recognised with a Member of the Order for service to civil engineering and road asset maintenance management.

He said that he was incredibly humbled by the recognition, particularly as it was the Rotary Club of Kawana, where he was formerly president, who nominated him.

"I'm pretty excited and honoured that the Kawana Rotary Club put me up for it," he said.

"Its certainly an accolade that I really appreciate."

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Prof Yeaman has extensive experience in engineering, having worked within the industry for more than half a century.

Now he makes a commitment to empowering the next generation of engineers in his role at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

"It's almost 60 years to the day that I started working in the roads industry," he said.

"It's my commitment to keep people interested in the art of engineering."

Prof Yeaman's career is one that has spanned many levels from his days as a soldier in the Australian Army to more than three rewarding decades running his own business.

But he said more than all of this getting married to his wife was one of his greatest achievements.

Prof Yeaman has most recently been appointed to an endowed Chair for The Department of Transport and Main Roads Professor of Pavement Engineering for a two year period.