October 21, 2004

Aeronautics and astronautics school honors outstanding alumni

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics will honor eight graduates today (Thursday, Oct. 21) with the school's Outstanding Aerospace Engineering Award.

The awards, which were created to recognize the school's alumni for significant professional contributions to the field, will be presented during a ceremony at the University Inn.

"The Purdue University designation outstanding aerospace engineer recognizes the professional contributions of graduates from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics and thanks them for the recognition that their success brings to Purdue and the school," said Thomas N. Farris, school head.

"Criteria for the award state that recipients must have demonstrated excellence in industry, academia, governmental service or other endeavors that reflect the value of an aerospace engineering degree. This celebration gives us a special opportunity to have our students interact with the best possible role models."

With this year's recipients, 93 graduates of the school have received the award since its inception in 1999.

This year's recipients are:

• Bradley D. Belcher, a Danville, Ill., resident who received a bachelor's degree in 1982. He currently serves as lead experimental engineer of the Joint Strike Fighter F-136 Engine Program for Rolls Royce.

• John T. Betts, a technical fellow at the Boeing Co. from Issaquah, Wash. Betts earned a master's degree from the school in 1967 and a doctorate in 1970.

• Lloyd E. Hackman, a 1952 graduate who lives in Fort Myers, Fla., and Worthington, Ore., and founded Ribbon Technology Corp. Hackman served as the company's president and chairman until his retirement in 1997.

• Anna-Maria McGowan, who earned a bachelor's degree in 1992. McGowan, of Williamsburg, Va., serves as a project manager for NASA.

• Terrence H. Murphy, division director for space power and energy systems for the Boeing Co. Murphy, of Westlake Village, Calif., earned a bachelor's degree from the school in 1980.

• David A. Spencer, who earned a bachelor's and master's degree in 1989 and 1991, respectively. A resident of LaCanada, Calif., he works as the mission manager for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Deep Impact Project.

• Anthony L. Thornton, of Fort Worth, Texas, who received a doctoral degree from the school in 1992. Thornton works with Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter New Initiatives program.

• Thomas L. Williams, sector vice president for program integration at Northrup Grumman Corp. from Newport Beach, Calif. Williams earned a bachelor's degree from the school in 1975 and a master's degree in 1976.

Writer: Matt Holsapple, (765) 494-2073, mholsapple@purdue.edu

Sources: Thomas N. Farris, (765) 494-5117, farrist@purdue.edu

Ann Broughton, Communications administrator, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, (765) 494-5147, broughto@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Additional biographical information and photographs of the winners can be found online.

Related Web site:
College of Engineering

To the News Service home page