Established in 1966, the DEAA honors graduates and friends who have distinguished themselves through outstanding personal qualities, knowledge, and significant contributions to their fields. Award winners may fall into several categories: Education, Research and Invention, Government Service, Industry and Commerce, and Private Practice. A sixth Special category is for alumni with distinguished careers outside those five categories or for non-alumni with distinguished service to the college.

2019

Steve Jolly

Steve Jolly

(AeroEngr’82, PhD’92) Chief Engineer Lockheed Martin Award Category: Industry & Commerce Steve Jolly is an extremely proud and accomplished graduate from CU Boulder, having received a BS and PhD in aerospace engineering. He also served as an adjunct professor before joining Lockheed Martin, where he is now the chief engineer for the Commercial Civil Space line of business. Jolly has held important positions in some of the most influential space...
Scott Palo

Scott Palo

(MEIEngr’90, PhD’94) Professor Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences at CU Boulder Distinguished Engineering Alumni Awardee Category: Education Scott Palo received his MS and PhD in electrical engineering from CU Boulder in 1990 and 1994, respectively. He joined the Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences shortly after as a research associate. From there, he progressed through the tenure ranks, becoming a full professor in 2013. From 2014 to 2017, Palo was associate...
Kristin Thunhorst

Kristin Thunhorst

(MChemEngr’96, PhD’98) Staff Scientist 3M Distinguished Engineering Alumni Awardee Category: Research & Invention After graduating from CU, Kristin Thunhorst joined 3M Corp. in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she has had a distinguished career full of exceptional professional achievements and recognition. Thunhorst has spent her time at 3M working across divisions and developing projects in numerous areas including optics, materials, aerospace and energy. She has had 22 U.S. patents issued, with...

2018

Scott McNary, CivEngr'81, MS'84

W. Scott McNary

(CivEngr'81, MS'84) Principal McNary Bergeron & Associates Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award Award Category: Industry & Commerce W. Scott McNary has more than 30 years of experience in design, management, construction engineering and inspection of a wide range of concrete and cable-stayed bridges. He provides innovative and visionary leadership in structural and bridge engineering research, in particular with analysis and design. He has made fundamental contributions in innovative design solutions for...
Jeanne Place, AeroEngr'50, MS'65

M. Jeanne Place

(AeroEngr'50, MS'65)) Retired Compressor Development Engineer General Electric Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award Award Category: Industry & Commerce M. Jeanne Place built a 40-year career at General Electric, becoming an expert in heavy-duty gas turbines and compressors and leading testing of compressors in the aerodynamics and performance subsection of GE’s gas turbine department. She was the first female engineering unit manager in the gas turbine department. Place continued involvement with CU...

2017

Ron Blackwelder

Ron Blackwelder

(AeroEngr'64) Professor emeritus Department of Aerospace and Mechical Engineering University of Southern California Award Category: Education 42 years of experience on the babyÖ±²¥app in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Southern California. Established a high level of distinction in the field of aeronautical engineering, making significant contributions to the field of transition and turbulence through key innovations in experimental methods and data analysis. Continues to...
Marco Campos

Marco Campos

(CivEngr'98) Founder and managing principal Campos EPC Award category: Industry & Commerce Founded Campos EPC, an engineering, procurement and construction company with four U.S. offices and one Canadian office employing approximately 160 people. Serves on the CU Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science Engineering Advisory Council and served on the BOLD (Broadening Opportunity through Leadership and Diversity) Center Advisory Committee. Envisioned and funded CU Engineering’s first summer program that...
Rob Davis

Robert H. Davis

Professor and Tisone Endowed Chair Award category: Special Served as dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at CU Boulder from July 2002 until January 2017. On the CU Boulder babyÖ±²¥app since 1982, including as chair of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering for 10 years, with demonstrated excellence in research, teaching and service. While dean, college research grants increased from $38 million to $83 million per...
Lisa Glatch

Lisa Glatch

(ChemEngr'84) Executive vice president and board director CH2M Award category: Industry & Commerce More than 32 years of experience in engineering and construction professional services. Has delivered major capital projects around the world across a wide variety of industries including oil and gas, government, consumer products, and power. Served for the past eight years on the CU Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science Engineering Advisory Council, currently holding the...
Richard Taylor

Richard N. Taylor

(ApMath'74, CompSci MS'76, PhD'80) Professor emeritus Information and computer sciences University of California, Irvine Award category: Education Established a 35-year career in software engineering research and education. Led research group that produced the HTTP/1.1 protocol and other key web technologies. Graduated 30 PhD students over the course of his career and laid foundations for the discipline of software architecture. Contributed to making the University of California, Irvine one of the...

2016

Frank Buzzard

Frank Buzzard

(AeroEngr ’74) Owner Space Engineering Consulting Inc. Award Category: Government Service 30 years of experience at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, including service as chief engineer of the International Space Station from 1996 to 2002, working with and leading engineering teams from 16 nations during the ISS construction. Served as chief engineer of the Space Shuttle program and led the NASA Columbia Accident Task Force. After retiring from NASA, led Mission...
Paul Hamilton

Paul Hamilton

(CivEngr ’75, MS ’77) Founder and President Novello GTL LLC Award Category: Industry & Commerce Highly respected environmental engineer, entrepreneur and alternative energy specialist, and an expert in the areas of refining, petrochemicals, renewable energies and gasification. During a 32-year career at Shell Oil, supported recruiting efforts that created a strong pipeline of talent from CU-Boulder into Shell. Dedicated volunteer to the college, serving on the Engineering Advisory Council, Resource...
Moriba Jah

Moriba Jah

(AeroEngr MS' 01, PhD '05) Director Space Object Behavioral Sciences University of Arizona Award Category: Government Service International scholar and speaker in the field of tracking objects in space and space junk. Served for eight years as director of the U.S. Air Force Advanced Sciences and Technology Research Institute for Aeronautics (ASTRIA), leading satellite guidance, navigation and control projects, as well as the institute’s Space Situational Awareness program. Dedicated volunteer...
 Michael Mcatee

Michael Mcatee

(CivEngr ’75, MS ’77) Founder and president Novello GTL LLC Award Category: Industry & Commerce Highly respected environmental engineer, entrepreneur and alternative energy specialist, and an expert in the areas of refining, petrochemicals, renewable energies and gasification. During a 32-year career at Shell Oil, supported recruiting efforts that created a strong pipeline of talent from CU-Boulder into Shell. Dedicated volunteer to the college, serving on the Engineering Advisory Council, Resource...
Doug Smith

Doug Smith

(CivEngr MS ’75) Assistant Dean for Programs and Engagement College of Engineering and Applied Science at CU-Boulder Award Category: Industry & Commerce Serves on the Dean’s Cabinet and is responsible for the development and leadership of programs that support college growth and excellence, as well as implementation of the college brand and communications. Impacted thousands of engineers through leadership roles with the city of Boulder, Tetra Tech, MWH Global and...