The American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM) has named retired Army Lt. Gen. Joe Ballard, an alumnus of Missouri S&T, its 2020 Engineering Manager of the Year.

“Over my professional career, I have been fortunate enough to be singled out for recognition a number of times, but the Engineering Manager of the Year award is the most defining,” says Ballard. “I was surprised and honored to be chosen for this special and generous recognition by mentors, peers, supporters and such a great organization as ASEM.”

Ballard is founder and CEO of The Ravens Group, Inc., a government contracting company in suburban Washington, D.C., as well as principal and board chair for Mobile Environmental Power, Inc., a renewable energy company in Coral Springs, Florida. He is a member of the Academy of Engineering Management at Missouri S&T and was among the university’s 2016 Alumni of Influence. 

“Joe continues to give back to the engineering management profession and emphasizes the importance of the blend of technical and leadership skills that can be gained through a study of engineering management,” says Dr. Suzanna Long, chair of engineering management and systems engineering at Missouri S&T, who nominated Ballard. “I can think of no one more richly deserving of this honor.”

Ballard’s last military assignment, a three-star command position, was as the 49th Chief of Engineers and Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Prior to that appointment, Ballard was the chief of staff for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and earlier served as the Commander of the U.S. Army Engineer Center at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

About Missouri University of Science and Technology

Founded in 1870 as the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,600 students and part of the four-campus University of Missouri System. Located in Rolla, Missouri S&T offers 99 different degree programs in 40 areas of study, including engineering, education, the sciences, business and information technology, the humanities, and the liberal arts. Missouri S&T is known globally and is highly ranked for providing a high return on tuition investment, exceptional career opportunities for graduates, and an emphasis on applied, hands-on learning through student design teams and cooperative education and internship opportunities. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit mst.edu.