Since SME was formed in 1932, its esteemed community of presidents has been an important part of the organization's history and an integral part of its future. SME presidents are leaders in manufacturing and academia who contribute their technical expertise and valuable career experiences to the organization and industry.

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2023

James W. Schlusemann, LSME, James W. Schlusemann was director of global business integration in Navistar’s Engine Group. He began his career as a machinist, setting up, operating, and programming conventional and CNC machines that made parts for construction equipment, engines and trucks at Navistar. During his career, Schlusemann held positions of process, industrial and systems engineer, ultimately rising to the position of Engine Group chief information officer. He has served on the SME Member Council as well as the SME Board of Directors in 2005, 2006, 2011, and 2016-21. Schlusemann also served as the 2023 SME President. Other SME contributions include contributing to board work groups on strategy, branding, and governance. Schlusemann has also served as an advisor for SME’s former Product Design & Automation and the Product Data Management & Exchange tech groups and led a team contributing to the fifth edition of Fundamentals of Tool Design. He is the founder and president of Prosperia International LLC, focusing on business process improvement and management services. Schlusemann holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and computer science, and a master’s degree in management information systems from North Central College in Illinois. SME Member Since 1989

2022

Dianne Chong, PhD, FSME, NAE, FASM, was vice president in The Boeing Co.’s Engineering, Operations & Technology organization where she managed materials and manufacturing processes and program integration. Chong was elected to the National Academy of Engineering and Washington State Academy of Science in 2017. She is member of the NAE Council, co-chairs EngineerGirl and serves on multiple committees of NAE. Chong is past-president of ABET. Chong is a member of TMS, AIAA, ASM International, SWE, Beta Gamma Sigma and Tau Beta Pi. She has served on the ASM board, is a fellow of ASM, and in 2007-08, was elected its first female president. Chong is past president of SME and a Fellow of SME. She received an award for alumna achievement from the University of Illinois in 2019 and has received numerous technical and diversity awards. Chong received bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology from the University of Illinois. She also earned master’s degrees in physiology and metallurgical engineering. In 1986, Chong received her doctorate in metallurgical engineering from the University of Illinois. She has an Executive Master of Manufacturing Management degree from Washington University. SME Member Since 1997

2021

Michael D. Packer, FSME, was the director of operations strategy for Lockheed Martin before retiring in January 2021. Besides his SME involvement, Packer is active in the Institute of Industrial Engineers; SAE International (serving as general chair for past AeroTech World Congress); the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (conferred associate fellow in 2011); the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council; and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining. He served as president of SME in 2021; chair of the NCDMM board; board member and treasurer for MSSC; vice-chair of the National Association Manufacturing’s Manufacturing Leadership Council; and is a past member of the Georgia Tech Industrial Advisory Board. Packer is Shingijutsu Lean Production System trained and certified, and a past board member of the MIT Lean Aerospace Initiative. He has published numerous articles concerning manufacturing strategy; advanced manufacturing technology and methods; transition from development to production; team-based, high-performance organization design; and manufacturing talent development. Packer is also an Eagle Scout. He attended Eastern Michigan University on athletic and academic scholarships earning a bachelor's degree in industrial technology. Packer also earned an MBA from Washington University at St. Louis and completed the Manufacturing Executive Program at the University of Michigan. SME Member Since 1981

2020

Susan M. Smyth, PhD, FSME, NAE, currently serves on the advisory board for the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Army. In 2019, Smyth retired as the chief scientist for global manufacturing at General Motors and the director of GM R&D Manufacturing Systems Research Labs. In this capacity, she directed the creation of GM’s global manufacturing R&D strategies and oversaw innovation and implementation of its advanced manufacturing technology portfolio. In this role at General Motors, Smyth was responsible for manufacturing technology research and development enabling the production of world-class vehicle and propulsion systems and driving innovations to enhance quality, efficiency and flexibility of GM’s manufacturing systems. During her career at General Motors, Smyth held a variety of leadership positions in manufacturing, engineering, “big data” analytics and research and development. She is recognized as one of the strategic technology leaders inside and outside GM. Smyth served as chair of the U.S. Manufacturing Council, which advises the Secretary of Commerce on government policies and programs that affect U.S. manufacturing. She was the GM executive representative and chair of the Manufacturing Technology Leadership Council at the U.S. Council for Automotive Research. Smyth has also served as executive technology advisor to several prestigious research institutes, such as the University of Michigan, MIT, Georgia Tech, Northwestern and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Smyth was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2018. She served as SME president in 2020, was made an SME Fellow in 2014, and has been recognized for her technical and business achievements with multiple international awards. Smyth has a bachelor's degree in physics, a master's degree in optoelectronics and information technology, and a doctorate in physics from the Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland. SME Member Since 2010

2019

Mark L. Michalski, LSME, was chief operations systems officer – global operations for MKS Instruments, the worldwide leader in technology solutions that measure, control, power, monitor and analyze the critical parameters of advanced processes such as semiconductor process manufacturing, environmental, life sciences and scientific research. Responsible for strategies in process development, new product introduction and information technologies, he was chief implementation architect of the Visual Factory cross-platform solution to data analytics, SPC and shop-floor management visualization. Prior to joining MKS, Michalski held positions as director of operations at Bel Fuse, a DC-to-DC converter manufacturer, and vice president of operations at Acumentrics Corp., an advanced fuel-cell provider. He also served in senior technical management positions at Zoll Medical and BBN Advanced Computers. Michalski received his education in manufacturing engineering and operations technology from Northeastern and Lowell Universities. He has held a wide variety of SME leadership positions. Michalski served as an executive board member and chair of Boston Chapter 33 for seven years, credited as a member of the team responsible for the revitalization of the chapter. Nationally, he has served as chair of the Manufacturing Enterprise Council and Member Council, as well as chair of the Chapter Enhancement Committee and member of the International Director/Member Council Nominating Committee. As co-chair of the One SME Committee, Michalski co-developed the strategy to combine and leverage chapter and technical community resources. In 2010, Michalski became an Award of Merit recipient. As chair of the SME Leadership Series Development team, he has been a primary speaker at more than 30 series events throughout the U.S. Since 2010, Michalski has served on the SME Board of Directors. He has been a member of the International Awards, Innovation and Business Development Committees, as well as serving as an SME Education Foundation Scholarship Committee reviewer since 2013. In 2019, Michalski served as the SME president. SME Member Since 1992

2018

Thomas R. Kurfess, PhD, FSME, NAE, PE, is one of the world’s leading experts in the field of digital manufacturing, cyber manufacturing and the internet of things (IoT) for manufacturing. Kurfess is currently the chief manufacturing officer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He began his career in manufacturing as a machinist at a job shop in the Chicago area in 1978. In 1989, Kurfess joined the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University where he rose to the rank of associate professor. In 1994, Kurfess moved to the Georgia Institute of Technology where he was promoted to full professor in 2000. In 2005, Kurfess was named professor and BMW chair of manufacturing in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research. In 2012, he returned to Georgia Tech where he was appointed the HUSCO/Ramirez distinguished chair in fluid power and motion control and professor of mechanical engineering. During 2012-13, Kurfess was on leave serving as the assistant director for advanced manufacturing at the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the executive office of the President of the United States of America. In this position, he had responsibility for engaging the federal sector and the greater scientific community to identify possible areas for policy actions related to manufacturing. Kurfess was responsible for coordinating federal advanced manufacturing R&D, addressing issues related to technology commercialization, identifying gaps in current federal R&D in advanced manufacturing and developing strategies to address these gaps. He has served as a special consultant of the United Nations and presently serves on the board of the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining. Throughout his career, Kurfess has received numerous awards including the National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award, the NSF Presidential Faculty Fellowship Award, the AMT Charles F. Carter Jr. Advancing Manufacturing Award, the 2006 SME Philip R. Marsilius Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, 2010 SME Education Award and election to the National Academy of Engineering in 2020. He served as the SME president in 2018. Kurfess joined SME in 1983, was elected to the 2006 Class of SME Fellows and served as the 2007-08 NAMRI/SME president. He received his SB, SM and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering from MIT in 1986, 1987 and 1989, respectively, and his SM degree in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT in 1988.SME Member Since 1983

2017

Sandra L. Bouckley, FSME, P.Eng., is the former executive director and CEO of SME. Prior to that, she was the 2017 SME president and an officer and director since 2012. Bouckley was the vice president of manufacturing systems, supply chain management and lean at GKN Driveline Americas where she worked since January 2015 and had global leadership responsibilities on the GKN Driveline Global Manufacturing Systems Council. Bouckley retired in late 2014 from the position of vice president, operations for the Electrical Systems and Services Business for the Electrical Sector of Eaton to which she was appointed in March 2013. She provided functional leadership across manufacturing, quality, operational excellence, supply chain, logistics and environmental health and safety. She joined Eaton in January 2011 as vice president of global advanced manufacturing for the industrial sector. Prior to joining Eaton, Bouckley was global director of operations at Tyco Electrical and Metal Products (division of Tyco International) leading 20 plants and the manufacturing engineering activities. Previously, she served as director of advance manufacturing engineering for the front-wheel-drive platform at Chrysler. Bouckley was plant manager at six different facilities in the U.S. and Canada. Prior to working at Chrysler, she held positions in product engineering at General Motors both in the U.S. and Canada. Bouckley holds an MBA from Michigan State University (Executive Program), a master's degree in manufacturing management and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering University (formerly General Motors Institute). She is a professional engineer registered in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Crain’s named Sandra to the Notable Women in Manufacturing Award in 2018. In 2016, Bouckley was elected an SME Fellow. In 2014, she was a STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Production) Award honoree from the Manufacturing Institute. Bouckley was named one of the 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry by Automotive News in 2005 and again in 2015. She has served on the boards of the SME Education Foundation, GMI Alumni Association and the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. Bouckley is also a member of both the Society of Automotive Engineers (winner of Outstanding Younger Member) and the Society of Women Engineers (former VP of Detroit section). SME Member Since 2004

2016

Dean L. Bartles, PhD, FSME, is the 2016 SME president and the 2016-17 president of the North American Manufacturing Research Institution of SME (NAMRI/SME). Bartles served as the founding executive director for the Digital Manufacturing & Design Innovation Institute in Chicago and the chief manufacturing officer of UI LABS. Prior to these recent assignments, he served as a vice president at General Dynamics Corp. where his career spanned over 30 years and included profit and loss responsibility for three manufacturing plants as well as managing the establishment of two manufacturing operations overseas. Bartles has more than 38 years of management experience, which has included positions with Fairchild Republic Co., General Defense Corp., Olin Ordnance, Primex Technologies, General Dynamics and UI LABS. He was elected an SME fellow in 2012. Bartles also serves on the Industry Advisory Board of ASME, where he became a fellow in 2012, and also currently serves as chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining and chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the Smart Manufacturing Leadership Coalition. Additional boards Bartles serves are the MT Connect Institute, the Board of Governors of the Manufacturing Leadership Council, the Louisiana Center for Manufacturing Sciences and Industry Advisory Boards at Penn State University, Iowa State University, Indiana State University, Pittsburgh State University and East Carolina University. He previously served on the board of directors of the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, the Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association, the Forging Defense Manufacturing Consortium, the American League of Export Security Assistance, the Manufacturing Division of the National Defense Industrial Association, the Department of Commerce’s Manufacturing Council and the Defense Industry Offsets Association. Additionally, Bartles was part of President Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Boards’ Education and Training Subcommittee, the U.S. State Department’s Defense Trade Advisory Group and the Army Research and Development Advisory Committee. He graduated from Shepherd College with a bachelor's degree in business administration, holds an MBA from Shippensburg University and a master’s degree in international business from Tampa College. Bartles has also earned a doctorate in business administration from Nova Southeastern University and a doctorate in technology management with a concentration in manufacturing systems from Indiana State University. SME Member Since 2002

2015

Wayne F. Frost, LSME, CMfgE, retired as a production system project manager and product quality systems auditor of John Deere Waterloo Works after a successful 37-year career. He has served at the international and former region and chapter levels. Frost served two terms on the SME Board of Directors from 2004-07 and two terms from 2008-12. He is the 2015 SME president, a member of the Audit and Finance Committees, and a former membership consultant for senior chapters in northern Iowa. Frost previously served as vice-chair of the Region Chairs Committee and as a member of the Certification Oversight & Appeals Committee. He served the former Region 9 as chair, chair-elect, treasurer, secretary, leadership training coordinator and certification committee chair. His many positions with Waterloo Chapter 186 include chapter chair, student chapter liaison, honor awards, certification and recruitment/retention committees. Frost has received the Award of Merit, President’s Award, Region 9 Olin Simpson Award, the Waterloo Chapter 186 Kurt E. Lear Award and the John Deere General Manager’s Award. He holds certifications as an ASQ-certified quality auditor and is an Institute for Supply Management certified purchasing manager. Frost received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Northern Iowa. SME Member Since 1983

2014

Michael F. Molnar, FSME, CMfgE, PE, has nearly 30 years of experience in advanced manufacturing. To help provide an industry focus, in 2011 he was named the first chief manufacturing officer of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Today, Molnar leads the NIST Advanced Manufacturing Program Office for extramural manufacturing programs and also serves as the director of the interagency Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office. His experience includes leadership roles in advanced manufacturing, metrology, manufacturing systems, quality, technology development, sustainability and industrial energy efficiency. Molnar's credentials include serving as a federal fellow in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and election as a fellow of both the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and SME. He is a licensed professional engineer, a certified manufacturing engineer and a certified energy manager. Molnar received an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, and both a master's degree in manufacturing systems engineering and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin. He is an active member of professional societies, consortia and volunteer organizations. SME Member Since 1982

2013

Dennis S. Bray, PhD, FSME, is president and chief executive officer of Contour Precision Group LLC. Contour Precision Group’s family of companies includes Huffman, a manufacturer of precision super-abrasive grinding, additive laser processing and abrasive waterjet manufacturing systems; Huffman Technologies, a provider of manufacturing process engineering services; and Springfield Manufacturing, a contract production services company. Prior to joining Contour Precision in 2010, Bray was the managing member of Bray Innovation Group LLC. He was president and CEO of Cincinnati Inc. and earlier served as its executive vice president. Throughout his career, Bray has participated in numerous conferences and events for different organizations serving in many capacities, including session chair, panelist, technical paper presenter and speaker. In 2003, he was elected to the SME College of Fellows, and in 1985, was recognized with SME's Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award. In 2015, he was once again recognized for his lifelong contributions to manufacturing and SME as the namesake for the Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award. Bray is a member of Crescent Chapter 215. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. SME Member Since 1985

2012

LaRoux K. Gillespie, Dr. Eng., D.Sc, FSME, CMfgE, PE, has had a career path that gave him a broad view of manufacturing as a process engineer with Bendix in 1966 on micro-size precision parts, precision assemblies, electronics, to his last role as quality assurance manager of Honeywell’s Federal Manufacturing & Technologies division, where he led a 200-employee group responsible for product and operating quality in one of the county’s most sophisticated multipurpose plants. Today, Gillespie is an independent consultant and researcher. He writes about manufacturing for "Cutting Tool Engineering" and "MICROmanufacturing" magazines and annually publishes other papers and reports on micromanufacturing and deburring. Throughout his more than four decades with SME, Gillespie has held several leadership roles, including terms on the SME Executive Committee and Board of Directors, the Profile 21 study of manufacturing engineering in the 21st century, education committees, certification, machining technology, deburring conferences, publications, accreditation, group technology, student leadership and most recently a study of taxonomies for use in identifying information. He was elected an SME Fellow in 1988. Gillespie is also a recipient of several local and regional awards, the Bendix Outstanding Technical Achievement Award, two AlliedSignal Special Recognition Awards, Jack A. Knuth Continuous Achievement Award (Honeywell), ASME’s Arthur L. Williston Award and Medal and the 1984 SME Albert M. Sergeant Progress Award. He has also been active with the Engineer’s Council for Professional Development, manpower and engineering guidance councils, served on four university advisory boards and was a member of several other manufacturing and engineering-related organizations. Gillespie is a registered professional engineer in Missouri, and a registered manufacturing engineering in California. He is an SME certified manufacturing engineer (CMfgE), a Chartered Engineer (Great Britain) and an Able Toastmaster. Gillespie has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Kansas, a master’s degree in manufacturing engineering from Utah State University and holds a doctorate in engineering from Meiji University in Japan. In 2011, he also received an honorary doctorate in science from Don State Technical University in Russia. SME Member Since 1963

2011

Paul D. Bradley, FSME, PE, is the managing director of Peterson Industries in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1951, Peterson is a project management and manufacturing company, including sourcing design and processes/items outside of their standard manufacturing scope, servicing mining, defense, automotive and various other sectors. Since joining Peterson in 1980, Bradley’s career has contributed to many facets of the manufacturing community. In addition, he has extensive board experience, including constitutions, bylaws and procedures, and developing brands and strategic plans. In 2011, Bradley served as SME’s president, and during his tenure, he launched the SME Brand Task Force. At the conclusion of 2012, Bradley completed 10 years of service as an SME international director and has served in various SME positions since becoming a member. In 2003, he was a member of SME’s Board Work Group on International Alliances, which led to a new alliance with the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Ltd, AMTIL. Bradley was elected to the 2015 SME College of Fellows, is a recipient of the 1997 SME Ralph E. Cross Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, and in 2001, received the Governor’s Leadership Foundation Fellowship Award in Adelaide. He completed a four-year apprenticeship as a fitter and turner, is a registered professional engineer in South Australia and earned a diploma of management in 1991. SME Member Since 1989

2010

Barbara M. Fossum, PhD, FSME, has held a number of positions in industry and academia. Currently, she is an independent consultant and coach in the areas of strategic planning, process engineering and business planning for entrepreneurial startups. Previously, Fossum was a senior research fellow of the IC2 Institute of the University of Texas at Austin where she works in worldwide economic development projects involving technology commercialization. Fossum has served on SME’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors, Ad Hoc Lifelong Learning Committee and the CASA/SME Board of Advisors, and was an editor of the CASA/SME's Blue Book series. She was elected an SME Fellow in 1996. Fossum holds a doctorate in operations management, an MBA, a master's degree in mathematics/computer science and a bachelor's degree in physics. SME Member Since 1989

2009

Richard W. Shoemaker, FSME, is currently president and CEO of HawkeyePedershaab, Concrete Technologies Worldwide, and is retired from the Kohler Company. Shoemaker began his career in the machine tool industry with Sundstrand Corporation, managing the first direct numerical control machining systems (Omnicontrol). He subsequently was appointed a managing director and started aviation and industrial products manufacturing operations in Singapore for Sundstrand. Shoemaker also served in plant management and manufacturing positions for Baker International's Reed Tool Company, an oilfield equipment firm. Shoemaker was a founding member of SME's former Manufacturing Enterprise Council (MEC) and past chair of the MEC Technology Watch Subcommittee. He was elected an SME Fellow in 2004. Shoemaker received his bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University and a master's degree in business administration from Houston Baptist University. SME Member Since 1976

2008

Neil A. Duffie, PhD, FSME, CMfgE, is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and served as its chairman from 1999 to 2007. He is currently chair of the Production Systems and Organizations Scientific Technical Committee of CIRP (The International Academy for Production Engineering). Duffie is the co-author of the book Computer Control of Machines and Processes. He received a bachelor's degree in 1972, a master's degree in 1974 and a doctorate in 1980, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Duffie became an SME Fellow in 1998. He is also a fellow of ASME and CIRP. SME Member Since 1981

2007

F. Brian Holmes, FSME, CMfgE, is vice president of operations at Columbia Plastics Ltd., where he is responsible for the production, tooling, quality and facilities of company operations. Holmes served as an SME International Director and an at-large member of the SME Executive Committee in the years before his presidential term. He received the SME Award of Merit in 1991, the SME Endurance Award and the SME Joseph A. Siegel Service Award in 1999. He was involved in the former Greater Vancouver Chapter 318 for many years and is a six-sigma black belt. SME Member Since 1982

2006

William J. “Willy” Geary, FSME, is the general manager of Boeing Winnipeg and the president of Boeing Canada Operations Ltd. Previously, he was the manufacturing superintendent of the final assembly for the 737 airplanes. Prior positions in commercial airplanes include chief engineer for 737 aircraft interiors, director of 737/757 and 747 production engineering and various management assignments in engineering and tooling. In 1990, he was awarded the SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award and was elected to the 2008 Class of SME Fellows. In addition to his long career at Boeing, Geary serves on Gonzaga University’s Board of Regents and was the recipient of the 2008 Gonzaga Distinguished Alumni Merit Award. SME Member Since 1987

2005

Gene M. Nelson, LSME, retired after a nearly 40-year career with Ford Motor Co. During his years at Ford, Nelson held a number of positions, including director of plant and manufacturing engineering for transmission and chassis operations, where he was responsible for new facilities, machinery and equipment. Nelson was also executive director of the manufacturing staff working with Ford’s international operations. He served for many years on the SME Education Foundation board of directors and was president of the Foundation in 1998-99. During his term as SME President, he was involved in updating the Society’s constitution and governance procedures. Nelson has a BS in industrial technology from Ohio University and an MBA from Michigan State University. He remains active on a number of SME committees. SME Member Since 1982

2004

Richard C. Peters, FSME, is manager – quality advancement and group quality lead – North American manufacturing for The Timken Co. Peters joined The Timken Co. in 1979, and his responsibilities have ranged from research and development, product design, manufacturing engineering, plant management and quality management. He served as SME president in 2004 and is a past chair of the former Region 7 and Greater Canton (Ohio) Chapter 110. He served six terms on SME’s Board of Directors, leading efforts in the development of the Manufacturing Enterprise Council, the Manufacturing Education Plan and the Lean Certification Program. Peters has chaired the SME Member Council and is a past chair and past member of the SME Professional Licensure Committee. He additionally chaired the International Director/Member Council Nominating Committee and the International Officer Nominating Committee. Throughout his career, Peters has been active in the promotion of the manufacturing engineering profession, with significant service in MathCounts, Science Fair, Engineer-For-A-Day and National Engineers Week, where he served as U.S. chairman in 2007. Peters received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University, and a master’s degree, also in mechanical engineering, from the University of Akron. He is a past recipient of OSU’s Alan Gregory Loofburrow Business Achievement Award, as well as the Silicon Valley Engineering Council’s William B. Johnson International Founders Award. In 2014, he was elected to the SME College of Fellows. SME Member Since 1979

2001

Peter Z. Bulkeley, PhD, FSME, is professor emeritus of mechanical engineering at Boston University. He obtained an AB in mathematics from Bowdoin College, bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a doctorate in engineering mechanics from Stanford University. Bulkeley was dean of engineering and technology and professor of mechanical engineering at Bradley University from 1972-80. He has served as chair of the International Director Nominating Committee, the International Officer Nominating Committee, the SME Education Foundation Student Development Committee and the SME Task Force on Advanced Technology Publications. Bulkeley was elected to the 1998 Class of SME Fellows. SME Member Since 1980

1999

Cecil W. Schneider, FSME, retired in 2001 after 37 years with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, where he was the director of engineering, new business. Previously, Schneider managed the Advanced Structures and Materials Division. He now has his own consulting firm, CEC Technologies PC, which deals in advanced materials and manufacturing process applications and marketing, and is president of Blue Skies Holdings LLC. Schneider is a past board member and a director emeritus of the SME Education Foundation and serves on the Foundation’s Scholarship Committee. He served as a board member for Project Lead The Way from 2001-09. Schneider became an SME Fellow in 1996. SME Member Since 1985

1997-98

Alan T. Male, PhD, FSME, PE, is a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Kentucky and president of Anvil Technologies LLC. Male was the 1989 recipient of the SME Frederick W. Taylor Research Medal in recognition of his research success for improving manufacturing processes. In 1991, he received the Westinghouse Science and Technology Center Outstanding Innovation Award, and in 1992, he was elected to the SME College of Fellows. Male also served as the 1988-89 president of the North American Manufacturing Research Institution of SME (NAMRI/SME). He is an honorary consultant professor at the Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China. SME Member Since 1974

1995

Gustav J. Olling, PhD, FSME, CMfgE, PE, is a retired Chrysler Corp. executive and founder of Rapid Product Creation. Olling has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Northern Illinois University, an MBA from Bradley University and a doctorate from Purdue University. He was a professor and department chairman of manufacturing engineering and manufacturing engineering technology at Bradley University, developing the school’s first ABET-accredited manufacturing engineering and manufacturing engineering technology program. Olling would also go on to become founder as well as director of Bradley’s Manufacturing Research Institute. He was elected an SME Fellow in 1986. SME Member Since 1968

1990

Gary J. Peterson, FSME, CMfgE, PE, is a retired manufacturing engineering manager of Hart InterCivic. As a U.S. Air Force veteran, he graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's and master's degree in mechanical engineering. Peterson started his career at Hewlett-Packard, where he remained until 1993. During his career, Peterson continued his postgraduate work and also taught classes in plastics technology at the community college level. Peterson was chair of the former Longs Peak Chapter 193. He became a member of the SME College of Fellows in 1993. SME Member Since 1967

1985-86

Marvin F. DeVries, PhD, FSME, CMfgE, PE, is an emeritus professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since his retirement in 2005. His teaching and research work had focused on material removal processes and computer-aided manufacturing. DeVries is the founding director (1983-92) of the college’s manufacturing systems engineering program. From 1999-2000, he served as president of The International Academy for Production Engineering (CIRP). He is a life fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, a fellow of the Institution of Production Engineers and an honorary fellow of CIRP. DeVries was elected to the SME College of Fellows in 1987. SME Member Since 1960

1980-81

Robert A. Dougherty, LSME, CMfgE, PE, is the retired founder of Dougherty & Associates, a machine tool distributor company he established in 1972. Dougherty graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1952 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Within the machine tool industry, he took on many roles, including leading sales efforts across several states. As a distributor, some of his company’s customers were The Boeing Co., Eaton, Rockwell, Western Electric and the U.S. government. SME Member Since 1957

1970-71

John E. Wilson, LSME, is retired as president of John Wilson Enterprises. He is a graduate of Santa Clara University’s management program and the AMA Management Program. Wilson began his manufacturing career at the former Marchant. There, he held a number of career-advancing roles, including becoming a plant manager. Wilson later became vice president-general manager of Smith Corona Typewriters; vice president, operations and manufacturing, for SCM Corp.; and chairman of the board of the Maui Mining and Manufacturing Corp. Wilson has been an instructor of engineering and management at both Golden Gate College and the University of California. SME Member Since 1953

1968-69

Robert M. Johnson, FSME, CMfgE, is retired from Honeywell after a 40-year career and is currently an adjunct faculty member at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering. Johnson began his engineering career at the University of Minnesota but later left school to join the U.S. Naval Air Corps, where he went on to graduate as a Navy pilot. After WWII, he returned to the University of Minnesota, finishing his degree work while working at Honeywell. At Honeywell, Johnson held several positions, including director of the management development school. He was elected to the SME College of Fellows in 1991. SME Member Since 1947

SME's first president, Joseph A. Siegel, began his term in 1932. Since then, 87 presidents have gone on to serve in this important role. We hope that by highlighting their many achievements and experiences, we will inspire future leaders to volunteer, mentor and contribute.

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