In 1974, Edward Coleman, Anthony Harris, Brian Harris, Stanley L. Kirtley, John W. Logan Jr., and George Smith, “The Chicago Six”, a host of other Purdue Engineering students and professor Arthur J. Bond, Ph.D. formed the first chapter of Society of Black Engineers. After contacting the other 288 accredited engineering schools, the Purdue SBE held its first annual meeting in April 1975 with 48 students from 32 schools. It was at that meeting that they unanimously voted to form the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

In 1976, NSBE was incorporated as a 501 c(3) national non-profit, and John Cason became the first elected president of the organization. Two years later (1978) Virginia Booth became the first female national chair and the first chair to serve two (2) terms. Since then, NSBE Alumni (now NSBE Professionals) was formed in 1989, and, in 1990, the first NSBE Jr. chapters were formed, setting a firm foundation to realize the NSBE mission. NSBE launched its first international chapter in London, England in 1992.

NSBE has grown from six (6) founding members to over 30,000 at its height, and from one (1) chapter to more than 790 chapters. As the guiding principles suggest and as the logo symbolizes, then to now, NSBE members continue to have a burning desire (flame) to achieve engineering excellence and have a striking impact (lightning bolts) on society and industry for generations to come (torch).