Missouri S&T awards honorary professional degrees

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On January 14, 2010

Missouri University of Science and Technology awarded 10 honorary professional degrees during Winter Commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 19.


The professional degree recipients are listed below.

Terry Bollinger of Ashburn, Va., is chief scientist for the U.S. Department of Defense’s DeVenCI program, which connects innovative private sector companies with potential federal customers. Bollinger is a recipient of the IEEE Millennium Medal from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and has served as editor of IEEE Software. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science from Missouri S&T in 1977 and 1980, respectively. Bollinger’s main hobby these days is researching and explaining quantum mechanics, and he has been quoted in the Russian press for his explanation of how ordinary concepts of time are stretched by a phenomenon known as quantum entanglement.

Doug Duchardt of Charlotte, N.C., is vice president of development for Hendrick Motorsports. Duchardt oversees race car design, engineering and production in the chassis, body and engine areas. He earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering at Missouri S&T in 1987 and a master’s degree from Purdue University in 1992. Duchardt originally joined General Motors in 1983 as a co-op student. In 2003, he became director of GM Racing and worked closely with NASCAR teams. He was named a vice president at Hendrick Motorsports in 2005.

Cary Dunston of Stephens City, Va., is senior vice president of manufacturing and supply chain services and one of three executive officers at American Woodmark Corp. Dunston earned a bachelor of science degree in engineering management from Missouri S&T in 1988. He also holds an MBA from Harvard University. A former officer in the U.S. Navy nuclear submarine fleet, Dunston has held leadership positions in global manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, marketing strategy, venture capital and international business at firms like Cummins Inc., and Tenneco Automotive, among others. He is an active youth mentor and served on the board of directors for the Center for Operational Excellence.

Don Finfrock of Gainesville, Ga., is a retired programmer, analyst and manager for NCR Corp. Finfrock earned a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics from Ohio Northern University in 1966. He then earned a master of science degree in computer science from Missouri S&T in 1968. He first went to work for NCR in 1968 as a systems engineer. From 1972-75, he was a programmer analyst in the Space Computation Center for Systems Development Corp. in Colorado Springs, Colo. Then he went back to NCR and was based in Cambridge, Ohio. Frinrock retired from NCR in 2004. He holds six patents.

Rob Johnson of Chesterfield, Mo., is vice president at A123 Systems, a company specializing in automotive-grade lithium ion batteries. Johnson earned a bachelor of science degree in engineering management from Missouri S&T in 1989. He spent 10 years with battery manufacturer APC, serving as CEO, North American president and vice president of the availability enhancement group. Johnson serves on the boards of C&R Mechanical Contractors, the Kilo Foundation and the CCP Hockey Club. He is an Eagle Scout and a member of Pi Kappa Alpha.

Kent Lynn of Washington, D.C., is a client executive for IBM Corp. Lynn earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1985. He also holds an MBA from the University of Nebraska. Lynn began work with IBM following graduation as an account systems engineer and has worked his way through the ranks to his current position. Lynn is past president of adventuring.org, a Washington, D.C., area outdoor group. He is currently an admissions ambassador for S&T, a member of the Victory Fund cabinet, and a member of the WAMU-FM Leadership Circle. He is also a volunteer reader for The Metropolitan Washington Ear.

Larry McCallister of Anchorage, Alaska, is director of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Projects and Program Management Division. McCallister earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1978 and 1979, respectively. He also holds a master of strategic studies degree from the U.S. Army War College and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. In 2000, McCallister was named the Corps’ Engineer of the Year and one of the National Society of Professional Engineers’ top 10 federal engineers. He is a member of the Academy of Civil Engineers.

Tim Viox of Columbia, Mo., is senior director of maintenance and project management for PARC Management LLC. Viox earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1987. Upon graduation, he took a job with Lever Brothers Co., a subsidiary of Unilever. In 1992, he went to work for Anheuser-Busch as a construction engineer. In 1996, he transferred to the Busch Entertainment division, working as a regional project manager in Florida, where he was responsible for major capital expansions at SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens in Tampa. Before taking his current position with PARC Management, Viox worked as the corporate director of rides and maintenance and the vice president of design and engineering for Busch Entertainment’s three Orlando parks (SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica).

Jonathan Waters is chief of anesthesia services at the Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In addition, Dr. Waters is director of the University of Pittsburgh Health System’s perioperative Blood Management program and medical director of the blood management division for Biotronics Inc. His areas of expertise include transfusion management, blood salvage and obstetrics. Waters has published three books on blood management and he is the immediate past president of the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management. Waters earned a bachelor of science degree in physics from Missouri S&T in 1981.

Linda Wright of Houston is vice president of ExxonMobil Chemical’s Adhesion Industry Global Business Unit. Wright earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1988. She has worked for ExxonMobil for 20 years in various positions. She began her career as a research engineer at the Linden Technology Center in New Jersey and held various technical and operations assignments before moving to her current position.

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On January 14, 2010. Posted in People