© Copyright 2011-12 College of Engineering, Virginia Tech
The Advisory Board to Virginia Tech's College of Engineering provides advice and support to the College on existing and proposed educational and academic programs and other activities. Specifically, it provides guidance strategies, assists in maintaining effective liaison with the University and the external communities, and helps to maintain and upgrade the national reputation the College presently enjoys in undergraduate, graduate, and research activities.
Kyle "Terry" Alfriend, a well-respected researcher with more than 40 years of diverse experience in the aerospace field, focuses on projects regarding space surveillance and the dynamics and control of swarms of small satellites flying in a precise formation.
Dr. Alfriend earned his bachelor of science degree and doctorate in engineering mechanics and from Virginia Tech. He...
Courtney Beamon received her bachelor's degree in 1995 and her master's degree in 1996, both in civil engineering, concentrating in transportation. A registered professional engineer, she works with Delta Airport Consultants, Inc. of Richmond, Va., a firm that specializes in airport consulting, planning and engineering. She joined the firm in 1996, and today is part-owner and serves as the...
Phil Burkholder is chief operating officer, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., also known as LibertyWorks®. In this role, he is responsible for the oversight and operation of the company, whose focus is on the development of technology for advanced gas turbine propulsion and power systems. Mr. Burkholder joined Rolls-Royce in 1986 and is based at the LibertyWorks site in...
John A. Calabrese holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology (I.I.T.) and a masters of science degree in administration from Central Michigan University.
Mr. Calabrese was awarded an academic General Motors (GM) scholarship at I.I.T. and worked as a summer intern for GM Fisher Body Division in 1979-1981 and officially joined GM...
Vinod Chachra, president and CEO of VTLS Inc., is an internationally recognized lecturer, consultant, and innovator in the field of information system planning.
After earning his Ph.D. in industrial engineering and operations research at Virginia Tech, Dr. Chachra served the university in many capacities. From 1972 to 1985 he successively assumed roles of director of software...
David Christian received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering with an option in nuclear science and engineering in 1976. Upon graduation Mr. Christian joined Virginia Power as an engineer. In 1979, he was promoted to engineering supervisor, which was followed by several other promotions to positions that included superintendent-operations in 1983. He returned to the nuclear division...
Peter C. Diakun is vice president and chief technology officer for Newport News Shipbuilding . His responsibilities include leading technology development and platform integration programs for the Newport News Shipyard. Specific programs include warfare systems, networks, integrated power, operations research, operational capabilities analysis, and modeling and simulation.
Based...
Charlie Harris, director of the Research Directorate of the NASA Langley Research Center, provides strategic leadership in the technical areas of aerosciences, airborne systems, materials, and structures in support of the NASA missions in space operations, exploration, and aeronautics.
Dr. Harris holds a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering, a masters of science degree...
Monique René Jackson is a primary examiner in the chemical technology area for the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in Alexandria, Va. Before joining the USPTO in 1999, she received a bachelor of science degree from Virginia Tech in chemical engineering in 1995 and continued on as a Ph.D. candidate from 1995 to 1999. During her studies at Virginia Tech, she held several leadership positions...
Michael Kender is an adjunct professor of finance in Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business. Mr. Kender began teaching after retiring as a managing director from Citigroup, where he spent 16 years as a debt analyst, covering high yield bonds and leveraged loans in the automotive, building, and industrial sectors. In addition to his role as a senior analyst, Mr. Kender also headed the firm...
Satish V. Kulkarni, a Virginia Tech alumnus who has led international and national collaborations related to energy, security, and the environment for more than three decades, is the director of energy initiatives for the university.
The Office of the Vice President for Research and the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science jointly created the position in recognition of...
Buford Lewis retired in April 2009 from ExxonMobil after holding senior positions in technology development and application, strategic and investment planning, energy forecasting, supply and asset management, and energy advocacy. His thirty-seven year career involved assignments with increasing responsibilities in Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Virginia as well as the U.K.,...
As president and executive director of the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing, David R. Lohr is responsible for general oversight and management of the organization, as well as its member recruiting efforts.. He brings a wealth of experience to the position, previously serving as the vice president of business development for the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park (VBRP). In that...
Sharon Brickhouse Martin is the president of Brickhouse•Martin Healthcare Engineering (B•MHE), which she founded in 1991. She is a senior healthcare consultant with more than 25 years of experience in organizational and operational evaluation and improvement, initially in the manufacturing industry and predominately in the healthcare industry.
Ms. Martin holds a bachelor of...
Sarah Mayer is director of affordability for F/A-18 & EA-18 programs for Global Strike Systems, Boeing Defense, Space & Security. She is responsible for leading the affordability initiatives required to meet multi-year savings commitments to the U.S. Navy and achieve market-based pricing for both domestic and international customers.
Prior to this position, Ms. Mayer was the...
Joe Meredith earned his undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering in 1969, and obtained his doctorate in industrial and systems engineering in 1997, both from Virginia Tech. He is the President of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, started in 1985.
At present, the CRC has 140 tenants in 27 completed buildings with another 18 buildings planned on its 210 acres of land. Dr....
Mohammad Noori has served as the dean of Engineering at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) since 2005. Prior to joining Cal Poly, Dr. Noori served as the RJ Reynolds Professor and the head of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University (1999-2004), and as the John Woodman Higgins Professor and the head of the mechanical engineering...
Lisa Price recently rejoined the General Electric Company's Corporate Business Development team as general manager of its corporate business development in China. In this role, Ms. Price leads business development activities in greater China in support of the businesses' inorganic growth initiatives and to drive M&A in China. She is based in Shanghai.
Prior to this role, Ms. Price...
Michael J. Quillen is executive chairman of the board of Alpha Natural Resources. Prior to the merger with Foundation Coal, Mr. Quillen served as Alpha's chief executive officer, and he was a member of Alpha's board of directors since Alpha's formation in November 2004. He served as Alpha's president until January 2007 and was named chairman of the board of directors in October 2006. Mr....
Michael Rencheck is president and chief executive officer of AREVA NP Inc. In this role, he is responsible for providing oversight for AREVA NP's North American activities, including the operational and next generation U.S. nuclear fleet. Before joining the company, Mr. Rencheck served as senior vice president and chief nuclear officer, responsible for oversight of AEP's Nuclear Generation...
Dr. John F. Sparks has a bachelor (1974), masters (1976), and Ph.D. (1981) degrees in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech. He joined Atlantic Research Corporation (ARC) in 1981 in the design engineering department, rising to the position of director of that department from 1993 to 2000. In 2000, he assumed a program management role.
In 2004, Aerojet purchased ARC. Dr. Sparks is...