The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award

Improve American performance and enrich your career

If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind professional development and networking opportunity – and the chance to make a meaningful contribution to organizational and community improvement as well as U.S. competitiveness – apply to serve as a volunteer on the 2026 Baldrige Board of Examiners.

Each year, leading experts from U.S. business, health care, education, nonprofit and governmental organizations serve in a unique and elite role on the Baldrige Board of Examiners. These volunteers represent every size and type of organization in the nation, as well as every functional role important to organizational and community success.

Benefits of serving as an examiner

• Gain experience in organizational and community assessment by reviewing applications from across the United States, observing what drives true performance excellence and resilience.
• Develop analytical, consensus-building, and other professional skills that advance your career and your organization’s improvement efforts.
• Network with leaders and professionals passionate about continuous improvement and personal growth.
• Be recognized for service by the Secretary of Commerce and the NIST Director.
• Be recognized for your contributions at the Baldrige Award Ceremony and Quest for Excellence Conference.

Who should apply

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
• Experts in leadership and governance, operations, workforce, customer and markets, finance, strategy, organization development and learning, and community collaboration.
• Experts in manufacturing, service, health care (acute and long-term care), education (K12 and higher education), and nonprofit (including government).
• Quality, continuous improvement, and performance excellence experts and consultants.

Selection guidelines for 2026

• Preference given to examiners with recent (2024–25) national examiner experience.
• Consideration given to examiners with recent (2022–25) Alliance member experience.
• Other consideration given to examiners with less recent experience (before 2022), both national and Alliance member programs.
• Limited number of new examiners — in 2026, most new examiners will be redirected to Alliance member programs.