Seven civil engineers with ties to Missouri University of Science and Technology were inducted into the Missouri S&T Academy of Civil Engineers during the academy’s induction ceremony held April 15.

The academy honors civil engineers for their contributions to the profession, leadership and involvement with Missouri S&T. The academy also serves as an advisory group to the Missouri S&T civil, architectural and environmental engineering department.

New members are:

Wayne Laufer of Sanibel, Fla., and Friday Harbor, Wash., retired CEO of Bois d’Arc Energy Inc., earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1967. After graduation, he began a career in offshore oil exploration and development with Shell Oil Co. In 1977, he co-founded S.A. Holditch & Associates, now a part of Schlumberger. In 1998, he founded Bois d’Arc Offshore, LTD, which became Bois d’Arc Energy. The company was taken public on the NYSE in 2005, with Laufer as president and CEO, and was sold in 2008. In 2009, Laufer and his wife, Gayle, announced a gift to endow a chair in energy research at Missouri S&T, the largest for an endowed faculty position received by the University of Missouri System. They are members of the Order of the Golden Shillelagh.

Kent Lynn of Bethesda, Md., senior sales executive with IBM, earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1985 and an MBA from the University of Nebraska in 1991. He began his career with IBM in Omaha, Neb., as a systems engineer, soon moving into sales roles with increasing responsibility. His extensive travel during his career led him to establish a scholarship fund at S&T to support international service learning. He advises non-profit institutions and schools on technology issues and serves on the Community Council of the public radio station at The American University in Washington, D.C., where he is also a member of the Leadership Council. He is a member of the Order of the Golden Shillelagh and is an avid triathlete, marathoner and distance cyclist.

Michael J. McEvilly of Spring, Texas, senior executive vice president of operations for Spitzer Industries Inc., earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering in 1980 and a master of science degree in engineering management in 1981, both from Missouri S&T. He has served in the oil and gas industry as facilities and construction manager deepwater worldwide with Anadarko Petroleum Corp. and vice president of capital projects with Helix Energy Solutions. He now oversees the design and fabrication of subsea equipment used in offshore oil and gas production operations. He was named the Young Engineer of the Year by the Sam Houston Chapter for the state of Texas and received the Distinguished Achievement Award for Projects at the Offshore Technology Conference in 2007 and 2010. He is a member of the Elks Lodge, Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and Shriners. He is a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and the Order of the Golden Shillelagh, and will be inducted into the Academy of Engineering Management this year.

M. Brad Parks of Albuquerque, N.M., senior manager of the Advanced Threat Technology Development and Response Group for Sandia National Laboratories, earned master of science and Ph.D. degrees in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1983 and 1987, respectively. His projects include accident performance of containment buildings housing nuclear power plants, structural analysis of ship-to-ship collisions to determine potential damage to on-board containers carrying radioactive materials, scientific advisor to the Department of Defense regarding counter proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and managing the study of transportation-related nuclear explosive security issues. Parks now manages four departments focused on nuclear weapon security, nuclear emergency response and consequence management for nuclear, chemical or biological incidents. He received the 2000 Sandia Employee Recognition Award and has authored approximately 50 publications.

Brad R. Parrish of Springfield, Mo., president of Palmerton & Parrish Inc., earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1977 and 1978, respectively. Following graduation, he began his career in geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing, co-founding Palmerton & Parrish Inc. in 1989. He is a licensed professional engineer in four states and is active in the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, including time served as president. He was also a director and political action committee trustee for the American Council of Engineering Companies of Missouri. In 1989, he was honored as MSPE Ozark Chapter’s Young Engineer of the Year. In 2000, he received the MSPE “Extra Mile” Resolution Award for his work on Engineering Licensure and Registration. In 2008, he was named S&T’s Chi Epsilon Chapter Honor Member. He is a longtime volunteer for church and youth activities at the North Side Christian Church of Springfield.

Charles “Chuck” Taylor of Springfield, Ill., group manager of aviation services for Crawford, Murphy and Tilly Inc., earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1983. He has worked in airports throughout the U.S. engineering solutions to technical, political and funding problems, while meeting stringent Federal Aviation Administration requirements. His work on rehabilitating Runaway 30R at Lambert Field in St. Louis won him a National Paving Award from the American Concrete Paving Association. He is a member of the Association of Airport Executives, the Missouri State Aviation Council and the American Society of Civil Engineers. A member of the St. Agnes Catholic Church, he volunteers for many parish activities, including youth softball, football and basketball.

Jeff Theerman, of St. Louis, executive director of the Metropolitan Sewer District, earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1980 and a master of science degree in civil engineering from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. A longtime engineer at MSD, he is responsible for all engineering, construction, operations and administration for the district, which covers all wastewater collection and treatment, as well as storm water collection and conveyance for St. Louis city and county. He is the national president for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, was named Missouri Society of Professional Engineers’ Engineer of the Year in 2008 and is an honorary member of the Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers. He is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, an Eagle Scout and serves as an assistant Cub Scout Pack leader.