Dennis S. Ward, AIA, NCARB, of Florence, S.C., was installed as president of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) at its 96th Annual Business Meeting.

“NCARB is becoming the organization we all want it to be,” Ward said. “A leader regarding licensure concepts, an aid to the work of our Member Boards, and an advocate for the value licensure brings to the public.”

During his term as president, Ward plans to create an Ethics Task Force, continue the Council’s exploration of an integrated path to licensure, and bring added benefit to the NCARB Certificate.

Ward previously served as NCARB’s first vice president/president-elect, second vice president, treasurer, secretary, and the director of the Southern Conference (Region 3), which represents the jurisdictions of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Over his distinguished career, Ward has been a member of the South Carolina Board of Architectural Examiners since 2001, serving as chair in 2004-2005 and again in 2009-2010. He has been a crucial member of numerous NCARB committees, task forces, and workshops, including the Licensure Task Force, the ARE Subcommittee (Chair 2008-2009), the ARE Technology Subcommittee (Chair 2006-2007), the Committee on Examination, the ARE Specification Task Force, and the ARE Item Writing Workshop. In 2013, he was awarded the NCARB President’s Medal for Distinguished Service, the Council’s highest honor, for his commitment to the architectural profession. Ward has also served as an NCARB visiting team representative for the National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB).

A graduate of Clemson University’s undergraduate program, Ward also attended Clemson’s Charles E. Daniels Center for Building Research and Urban Studies in Genoa, Italy, and received his Masters of Architecture from Clemson University. In 1995, Ward became president of F W Architects, Inc., AIA, a position in which he continues to serve.

Experienced in both large and small design projects, Ward’s portfolio includes educational, civic, theatrical, commercial, institutional, religious, health care, senior living, adaptive re-use, state, and federal projects. He holds an NCARB Certificate for national reciprocity and is licensed in South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina.