DESA 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
2019
2018
2017
- Principal, Emeritus for Engineering Systems Inc. (ESI)
- Director, Kohlman Systems Research, Inc.
- 2017 DESA Recipient
- Chief Executive Officer/President, A. Zahner Company
- Co-Founder & Chairman, MetaLABS
- 2017 DESA Recipient
2016
- N.T. Veatch Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering
- University of Kansas School of Engineering
- 2016 DESA Recipient
- National Academy of Engineering
- Ackers Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering, University of Kansas
- 2016 DESA Recipient
2015
- Deane E. Ackers Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
- University of Kansas School of Engineering
- 2015 DESA Recipient
2014
- A.P. Learned Distinguished Professor Emeritus
- Interim Dean, KU School of Engineering
- 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
2012
- Founder and Retired President of Picosecond Pulse Labs, Inc.
- 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
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 Chairman and Chief Executive of Standard Oil Company of Ohio
- 1980 DESA Recipient
