Five professionals with ties to Missouri University of Science and Technology were inducted into the Missouri S&T Academy of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers at a dinner and induction ceremony held on campus Oct. 11.

The academy recognizes outstanding alumni for their professional achievement and success, and provides organized assistance to the mechanical and aerospace engineering department at Missouri S&T.

New members are:

• Matthew G. Baebler of San Antonio, Texas, director of energy and greenhouse gas for Tesoro Refining and Marketing Co. Baebler earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering in 1979 and a master of science degree in engineering management in 1980, both from Missouri S&T. He began his career in Chicago with Standard Oil of Indiana/Amoco and for 18 years served in various engineering, maintenance and operational positions. In 1998, Baebler was operations manager at Amoco’s Salt Lake City Refinery when the company merged with BP, then was based out of the BP corporate office in London for two years, providing refining operation support. In 2001, he joined Tesoro as a tech manager. His current responsibilities are energy management, including efficiencies in Tesoro’s refineries, as well as greenhouse gas knowledge and applications. He has been involved in many industry groups, including National Petrochemical and Refining Association and Western States Petroleum Association. He is a past president of Utah Association of Energy Users.
• Steven M. Bass of St. Louis, director of advanced global strike in phantom works for Boeing Defense, Space and Security. Bass earned a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from Missouri S&T in 1987, a master of science degree in aerospace engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1988 and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis in 2009. He began his career with Boeing at its helicopter plant in Mesa, Ariz., transferring to St. Louis in 2002. He has held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in engineering and program management.
• Bryan H. Cupples of Euless, Texas, director of advanced quality systems in Fort Worth for Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company. Cupples earned a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from Missouri S&T in 1986. He began his career with Bell Helicopter, serving in various engineering, operations and program management positions overseeing the development of numerous commercial and military products. He serves on the Missouri S&T Corporate Development Council and is the university point-of-contact for Bell Helicopter, focusing on college recruitment and research partnerships with S&T. He also oversees Bell Helicopter’s partnership with the Missouri S&T Center for Aerospace Manufacturing Technology.
• Randy Frank of Dearborn, Mich., global front end and underbody/computer-aided engineering manager for product development in body exteriors and stamping engineering for Ford Motor Co. Frank earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1991. He began his career with Ford in the Ford College Graduate Program and attended the University of Michigan on the Ford Fellowship Program, earning a master of science degree in engineering management in 1995. His career developed through many positions in body engineering and CAE and has focused on utilizing lean principles and CAE to produce innovative product designs. He has incorporated numerous new technologies in the industry and has maintained ties with Missouri S&T in recruiting, research and other donations through Ford.
• Christopher W. Keene of Sugar Land, Texas, president and CEO of Rangeland Energy LLC. Keene earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1988 and an MBA from the University of Houston in 1993. He founded Rangeland Energy in 2009 to develop, own and operate crude oil assets in North Dakota’s Bakken shale formation. Prior to this, he held executive and leadership positions for Sunoco Logistics Partners, Unocal Corp., El Paso/Tenneco Corp. and Panhandle Eastern Corp.