Honors go to a retired Air Force major general, executive information technology consultant, optical materials expert and utility systems appraisal specialist
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The School of Engineering at Rutgers University is awarding its “Medal of Excellence” to alumni who have made major contributions to society or achieved notable positions in business, government or education.The recipients will be honored at an awards banquet May 20, the evening before the School of Engineering’s spring commencement convocation. They are:
- Retired Maj. Gen. Scott Gration, U. S. Air Force, presently serving as the United States special envoy to Sudan. Gration is being honored as alumnus of the year. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rutgers in 1974.
- Mark Lutchen, senior practice partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he is in charge of the company’s information technology effectiveness practice. Lutchen is being honored for lifetime achievement. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering in 1973 and a master’s degree in business administration in 1974, both from Rutgers.
- John Ballato, professor, School of Materials Science and Engineering; director, Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies; and associate vice president for research and economic development, Clemson University. Ballato is being honored for achievement in academia. He earned a bachelor’s degree in ceramic science and engineering in 1993 and a doctorate in ceramic and materials engineering in 1997, both from Rutgers.
- Benjamin Williams, senior manager, MR Valuation Consulting, LLC. Williams is being honored as the distinguished young alumnus. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering in 2001 and a Juris Doctor degree in 2008, both from Rutgers.
At the same event, the school’s alumni association – the Rutgers Engineering Society – will present its distinguished engineer award to Maj. Frank Conway, U. S. Marine Corps. Conway received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Rutgers in 1989.
"Rutgers has a long and proud history of engineering education, with graduates who have risen to leadership positions in government, industry and academia worldwide,” said Yogesh Jaluria, interim dean of the School of Engineering. Jaluria said the annual awards provide an opportunity to recognize alumni and display the breadth of talent and expertise the School of Engineering nurtures.
Instruction in engineering began at Rutgers in 1864, when the state of New Jersey designated the Rutgers Scientific School as the “State College for the Benefit of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.” The present School of Engineering became a separate entity in 1914. It has departments that cover aerospace, biochemical, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial, materials, mechanical and systems engineering.
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BACKGROUND
Alumnus of the Year award:
After his retirement in 2006, he became an adviser to Senator Barack Obama and joined the senator’s presidential campaign in 2008. He was appointed special envoy to Sudan in March of this year.
Gration lives in Nutley, N.J.
Alumni Lifetime Achievement award:
Mark Lutchen is in charge of consulting services to senior executives on information technology strategies, organizations and operations. Lutchen established a strategic vision for the information technology practice, including global market development, start-up, penetration and growth plans. He also served as the global chief information officer for PricewaterhouseCoopers, integrating the information technology organizations dispersed throughout the company’s worldwide sites. He led consulting engagements with several major corporate clients.
Lutchen lives in Harrison, N.Y.
Alumni Achievement in Academia award:
John Ballato researches the optical and optoelectronic properties of materials; optical fiber fabrication; photonic band gap materials and structures; and rare-earth doping for active and passive applications, including lasers optical amplifiers and isolators. He has received prestigious awards from the American Ceramic Society, the National Institute of Ceramic Engineers, and the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, as well as recognition from academic, corporate and community groups. He was one of 40 young people worldwide to receive a scholarship to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival at The Aspen Institute in 2007.
Ballato lives in Clemson, S.C.
Distinguished Young Alumnus award:
Benjamin Williams performs complex machinery and equipment appraisals and provides expert witness testimony and litigation support on fair market value cases. He also performs valuations to support his clients’ financial and tax reporting requirements. He specializes in appraising energy and utility property worldwide, including nuclear power plants, electric transmission lines, natural gas distribution pipelines and water utilities. Williams has helped the company expand from one office in New Jersey to sites in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Chile, China, and Hong Kong. He currently manages the New York City office.
Williams lives in Bronx, N.Y.
Rutgers Engineering Society Distinguished Engineer Award:
Maj. Frank P. Conway joined the Marines in 1993 and was designated a naval aviator in 1995. From 2001 to 2005, he served as a developmental test pilot on the V-22 Osprey aircraft. Conway led a team of 60 engineers, maintainers and flight crews in high-risk developmental testing of the V-22’s icing protection system. He later served as operations officer with the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Test and Evaluation Sqaudron 22, overseeing operational and integrated testing on the V-22 aircraft. He provided data and analysis to authorize the aircraft for war deployment, including combat duty in Iraq.
Conway lives in Sneads Ferry, N.C.
Media Contact: Carl Blesch
732-932-7084 x616
E-mail: cblesch@ur.rutgers.edu