Honorees by Year
The KU School of Engineering and its Advisory Board are proud to recognize the contributions of these esteemed men and women.
Recipients by Year
2017
Principal, Emeritus for Engineering Systems Inc. (ESI), and Director, Kohlman Systems Research, Inc.
Chief Executive Officer/President, A. Zahner Company, Co-Founder & Chairman, MetaLABS
2016
N.T. Veatch Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Kansas School of Engineering
2015
Deane E. Ackers Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Kansas School of Engineering, B.S., Petroleum Engineering, University of Tulsa, 1955, M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 1959, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 1963, 2015 DESA Recipient
Retired CEO, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. , B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Kansas, 1971, M.B.A., University of Denver, 1981, 2015 DESA Recipient
2014
A.P. Learned Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Interim Dean, KU School of Engineering, 2012-2013, 2014 DESA Recipient
Retired North American Sales Manager, ExxonMobil, B.S., Chemical Engineering, 1979, 2014 DESA Recipient
2013
Project Director, NASA Apollo, Principal Engineer, MRI-Global, Founder of Padgett-Thompson, CottageCare, Unlimited Films, “Unlimited Success” Trainer, Author, Speaker, and Theatrical Producer, 2013 DESA Recipient
President, Argent Energy, Inc., Petroleum Engineering Consultant, 2013 DESA Recipient
2012
Founder and Retired President of Picosecond Pulse Labs, Inc., 2012 DESA Recipient
Retired, Entergy-Koch LP, CEO, Koch Industries, Senior Vice President, 2012 DESA Recipient
2011
Head, Research & Applied Science Dept. (retired)
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, U. S. Navy
, 2011 DESA Recipient
2010
Retired Assistant Director Engineering and Development Directorate, NASA, Retired Program Engineering Manager, Lockheed Missiles and Space, 2010 DESA Recipient
Retired Executive Vice President and COO Process Division, Black & Veatch Corp., 2010 DESA Recipient
2009
Retired, Vice President of International Business Development for Chemicals, Phillips Petroleum Co., 2009 DESA Recipient
Professor of Mechatronics Engineering, Korea University of Technology and Education, 2009 DESA Recipient
2008
Retired, Senior Process Consultant Dow Chemical Company, Retired, Midland Engineering Ltd., 2008 DESA Recipient
Executive Director, The CENTER, a Samaritan Counseling Center, Retired President and COO, Wire Rope Corporation of America Inc., 2008 DESA Recipient
Certified Financial Planner, Retired Executive, General Electric Company, 2008 DESA Recipient
2007
Rear Admiral, retired, U.S. Navy, Director of Training GSO Corporation, 2007 DESA recipient
2006
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, Commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Command and Chief of Civil Engineers, U.S. Navy, 2006 DESA Recipient
Retired Vice President of Advanced Research and Development, Nike Inc., 2006 DESA Recipient
2005
Professor of Engineering Management, Former Dean of the KU School of Engineering , 2005 DESA Recipient
2004
Montague-Betts Professor of Structural Steel Design, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2004 DESA Recipient
2003
2002
2001
2000
Chief Executive Officer and Owner, Bee Chemical Company, Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Tioga International, Inc., Founder and President, Allen Financial, Inc., 2000 DESA Recipient
1999
Emeritus Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, The University of Kansas, 1999 DESA Recipient
1998
Retired, President and Chairman of the Board, China Steel Corporation, 1998 DESA Recipient
1997
Retired, Chief of Engineering, Directorate of Civil Works, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1997 DESA Recipient
1996
Vice President, Strategic Planning, Lockheed Martin Government Electronic Systems, Retired U.S.N., Program Executive Officer, Theater Air Defense, 1996 DESA Recipient
1995
1994
Retired, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Purdue University, 1994 DESA Recipient
1993
Retired, Professor Civil Engineering, University of Kansas, 1993 DESA Recipient , Deceased
1992
1991
1990
Associate Dean, College of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 1990 DESA Recipient
1989
Dean Emeritus and Professor, School of Engineering, Iowa State University, 1989 DESA Recipient
1988
Professor Emeritus and Former Dean of the KU School of Engineering, 1988 DESA Recipient
1987
Retired Vice President and Director of U.S. Area Operations for Dow Chemical USA, 1987 DESA Recipient
1986
Retired Chairman, President and CEO of National-Standard Co., 1986 DESA Recipient
1985
Professor and Chair of Civil Engineering, University of Illinois, 1985 DESA Recipient
1984
Retired Dean Emeritus of Engineering at the University of Florida, 1984 DESA Recipient
Retired Chief of Water Supply and Development for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 1984 DESA Recipient
1983
Professor and Chair, Department of Electrical Engineering at Michigan State University, 1983 DESA Recipient
1982
1981
Retired Director of AEGIS Shipbuilding Project, U.S. Navy, 1981 DESA Recipient
1980
Retired President and Chief Executive of Phillips Petroleum Co., 1980 DESA Recipient
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive of Standard Oil Company of Ohio, 1980 DESA Recipient
