2008 Distinguished Alumni of the Swanson School of EngineeringThe Swanson School of Engineering has honored its top graduates through the Distinguished Alumni Awards since 1964. Swanson School of Engineering Distinguished AlumnusMahmoud K. Dabbous 
Dr. Mahmoud K. Dabbous is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Improved Petroleum Recovery (IPR) Group of Companies based in Dallas, Texas, with branch offices in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Through IPR, he presides over several oil and gas exploration and production companies globally in partnership with foreign governments and major international oil, gas, and energy corporations. Dabbous is an international authority on improved oil recovery technology and has more than 35 years of experience in the petroleum industry. He has managed the design and implementation of large-scale field development projects in the United States, Indonesia, South America, Pakistan, Egypt, and elsewhere in which state-of-the-art technology has been applied to increase production through secondary and tertiary methods. As an expert on enhanced oil recovery (EOR), he has been responsible for research into new thermal and miscible recovery processes and the introduction of EOR technology implementation in several countries. He also holds a U.S. patent on "Miscible Drive in Heterogeneous Reservoirs." Prior to his tenure with IPR, Dabbous served as Manager, Enhanced Oil Recovery and Reservoir Simulation Applications, for Core Laboratories, Inc., where he was responsible for overall management of EOR operations from feasibility study through full–field development, and reservoir engineering through simulation modeling. He also worked for Amoco Production Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a Senior Staff Research Engineer in the Reservoir Mechanics Division. Dabbous has served his industry as a past Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Continuing Education Committee, and is routinely called upon by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), International Energy Agency (IEA), and other organizations to serve as a guest lecturer in improved oil recovery technology. Additionally, he has authored numerous technical papers on improved oil recovery technology, reservoir management, and reservoir engineering. He was listed in the 1993 publication of Who's Who in Leading American Executives in recognition of his technical and executive management achievements and was also included in the Heritage Registry of Who's Who in 2006-2007. In addition to his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, Dabbous is a Diploma Candidate in Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum Production Technology Institute, Clausthal, Germany; and holds a Bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering from Cairo University, Egypt. Dabbous has been a long-time supporter of the Swanson School of Engineering and most recently established a graduate fellowship to support a current Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering. He also created three endowed Engineering Legacy Funds, which he chose to name in honor of three of his petroleum engineering professors at Pitt: Paul Fulton, Ed Stewart, and Joseph Taber. Dabbous was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering in 1996. Department of Chemical and Petroleum EngineeringRaymond P. Niro 
Raymond P. Niro began his career as a chemical engineer at Shell Chemical, and later became a patent trainee for DuPont. In 1969 he graduated from the George Washington University Law School. He is now a nationally-recognized trial attorney specializing in the trial of patent infringement, trade secret, trademark, and copyright cases. During the course of his legal career, Niro has won 20 consecutive multi-million dollar verdicts, including a recent case in Pittsburgh in which his client, MuniAuction/Grant Street was awarded more than $86 million in damages, one of the largest awards ever documented in Pittsburgh's history. Niro's cases have involved such diverse technologies as soy-based inks; tomato, grape, and pea harvesters; military equipment; voice mail; text messaging; municipal bond auctions; pre-cooked Italian sausage; microprocessor chips; and the Black & Decker "SnakeLight" flexible flashlight. Over the past 10 years, Niro has recovered more than $800 million for his clients through trials or settlements collectively. In 1997 the National Law Journal named him one of the 10 best litigators in the country, and in 1999 he was named by the National Law Journal as one of the 10 best trial lawyers in Illinois. The Niro Scavone firm of 30 lawyers ranked number one in plaintiff's patent infringement cases filed in the United States in 2005. Niro is also an active supporter of the Swanson School of Engineering, as a contributor to an endowed scholarship established in honor of longtime chemical engineering professor Shiao-Hung Chiang, and most recently as a donor to the school's building campaign for Benedum Hall. Through a commitment from Niro, the school's largest instructional facility to result from the renovation and expansion of Benedum Hall will be named the Niro Lecture Hall. This 230-seat auditorium-style space is being named by Niro in honor of his parents, Pardo and Adeline, Italian immigrants who came to Pittsburgh in 1920. Construction on the Niro Lecture Hall will begin later this year. Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringJames J. Lombardi 
Jim Lombardi has over 26 years of dedicated service with SAI Consulting Engineers, Inc., an employee-owned transportation design and construction management firm with more than 150 professionals and support staff. SAI is headquartered in Pittsburgh and has branch offices in Harrisburg, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Orlando, FL. As Executive Vice President, Lombardi leads the Construction Management Department, assists with marketing and business development efforts, and was instrumental in the opening of SAI's Florida office. Lombardi has served as principal-in-charge of the construction management and/or inspection of the many notable projects, including: the rehabilitation of the Highland Park Bridge, the West End Bridge, the South Tenth Street Bridge, and the Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Street Bridges; the replacement of the Clairton-Glassport Bridge, the Mon City Bridge, and the East Brady Bridge; the construction of the East Street Interchange, the Robinson Town Centre Interchange, the South Side Works Infrastructure, and the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Training Center at Pittsburgh International Airport. Lombardi is now the principal-in-charge of the $350 million Mon/Fayette Expressway, Uniontown to Brownsville, Phase II project. Prior to SAI, Lombardi served as the Manager of Roads for the Allegheny County Department of Engineering and Construction, and as a Civil Engineer II for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Lombardi has been very fortunate to pursue his second "dream" career as a teacher. For 10 years Lombardi taught the Highway Design Senior Project course in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, while he has also served as a judge for the forensics competition and the annual Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) student project competitions. Lombardi is a longtime volunteer and supporter of the Swanson School of Engineering. He currently serves as a member of the Visiting Committee for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and he is a past president of the Pitt Civil Engineering Alumni Club. He is also a member of the Panther Club and the Pitt Alumni Association. Lombardi was also among the first alumni to establish an Engineering Legacy Fund for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Lombardi is also active professionally in his field, serving as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE), the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the ASCE Student Award Foundation Board, and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) where he serves as Chairperson of the Construction Services Subcommittee. Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringMarlin H. Mickle 
Marlin H. Mickle is one of the longest-serving engineering professors in the history of the University of Pittsburgh, as well as one of the most prolific. He currently holds the Nickolas A. DeCecco Professorship, with appointments in electrical engineering, computer engineering, telecommunications, and industrial engineering. He is also the Executive Director of the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Center of Excellence, an internationally-recognized research laboratory leading the advancement of RFID technology. Through his RFID research, Mickle has positioned Pitt as a global leader in this emerging technology. The U.S. Department of Defense established a standard RFID frequency (ANSI 915 MHz) for all UHF RFID applications based on Mickle's research. Powercast Corp., a spin-off company which licensed technology developed by Mickle, won "Best in Show for Emerging Technology" at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where it was chosen from a field of more than 20,000 new products from around the world. As a result of Mickle's work, Pitt is now engaged in many collaborative research partnerships with leading global companies including Boeing, GlaxoSmithKline, Del Monte Foods, McKesson, and others. Mickle is an active scholar in other areas as well, and has successfully obtained 10 patents in such areas as thin-film magnetic angles, energy harvesting, and method data communication. He also has authored 115 journal publications, more than 100 refereed conference publications, two books, and he has edited more than 20 other books. Over the course of his career, Mickle has received numerous awards including the 1988 recipient of the Systems Research and Cybernetics Award of the International Institute for Advanced Studies in Systems Research and Cybernetics; Life Fellow of the IEEE; 2004 Honorable Mention for the Carnegie Science Center Award (with five Pitt colleagues); Carnegie Science Center Award for Excellence in Corporate Innovation, 2005; Robert O. Agbede Faculty Award for Diversity, 2005-06; and the Pitt Innovation Award, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Mickle has also honored the memory of his parents by establishing a trust in 2004 which will result in the creation of two endowed chairs in electrical engineering at Pitt. The Ruth E. Mickle and Howard T. Mickle chairs will be invaluable to the future of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, as it will allow the department to attract and retain leading scholars in their field. Mickle has also stepped forward to support the current renovation campaign for Benedum Hall through a gift which will result in the naming of a conference room in the Dean's office suite. Mickle is also active in a number of other Pittsburgh organizations. He has previously served as a Trustee of Albright College; Member and President of the Board of Directors of Asbury Heights; Board of Directors of University Research and Development Associates; and is currently an Elder of Shadyside Presbyterian Church. Department of Industrial EngineeringBarbara L. Shelton 
Appointed to her current role by President Bush in 2002, Barbara Shelton serves as the principal representative of the GSA Administrator for the Mid-Atlantic Region. This area includes Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and surrounding counties (with the exception of Washington, DC), and U.S. installations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Her duties include being spokesperson on all regional public affairs matters, the preplanning and construction of all public buildings, the day-to-day operations of over 750 buildings housing 94,000 employees, and the acquisition of supplies, services, and information technology. Key initiatives include security, performance management, new courthouse construction/renovation, and small building programs. She is responsible for over 1,000 employees, with revenue of $1.8 billion and an operating budget of more than $600 million. Shelton also has served as Acting Federal Technology Service Commissioner, Acting Federal Supply Service Commissioner, and Acting Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner for the GSA. In 2000, Shelton was employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and in 1996 she worked for the Pennsylvania Department of General Services where she teamed with the Secretary of the Department of General Services, the Chief Counsel’s Office, and State agencies, boards, and commissions for the passage and implementation of Procurement Reform. The law is the most far-reaching procurement legislation since 1929. Prior to her work in Harrisburg, PA, Shelton held a series of roles with Philip Morris, Inc. located in New York City, and began her career as a programmer/analyst at PPG Industries, Inc., located in Pittsburgh in 1980. Shelton has also remained connected to Pitt, serving as a lead volunteer and donor toward an effort to honor Karl Lewis, a long-time member of the civil engineering faculty. Dr. Lewis established a student support program in 1969 with the goal of improving access and increasing retention among underrepresented populations, including women and minorities. The IMPACT program benefitted hundreds of engineering students, including Shelton, and these alumni came together in 2004 to thank Dr. Lewis by starting the Karl H. Lewis IMPACT Alumni Endowed Fund, which will benefit current engineering students.Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials ScienceEdward F. Sobota 
Edward F. Sobota received the Vanadium Alloys Steel Co. scholarship in 1963, and received the Outstanding Senior award upon graduating from Pitt with a degree in metallurgical engineering in 1967. He began his career at Teledyn Vasco (formerly Vanadium Alloys Steel Co.) immediately after graduation where he worked until 1971. Sobota returned to Pitt to earn a master's degree in education, and joined Ligonier Valley High School to teach math, chemistry, and advanced chemistry from 1971-74. Sobota founded Tech Specialties Co. in 1973 as a process consulting firm. He became Chief Metallurgist for Titanium West, Reno, NV, from 1974-75 while maintaining his consulting business. Tech Specialties evolved into a processing plant with a small facility in Latrobe, PA, in 1976. The plant was relocated to Derry, PA, in 1977 and incorporated into TechSpech Inc. (TSI Titanium) in October 1979. More than 30 years later, TSI has nearly 50 employees and is a nationally-acclaimed manufacturer and supplier of titanium bar and forging products for the aerospace, medical, chemical, and industrial product industries. In recognition of his achievements in the titanium industry, Sobota was elected to the board of directors of the International Titanium Association in 1999. He served as vice president from 2003-05 and just completed a two-year term as president. He remains a member of the ITA board. Sobota also has a lifelong passion for flying, as he obtained his pilot's license in 1967 and began using aircraft to promote and serve his business in 1975. As TSI expanded, Sobota's requirements for license maintenance changed as well. In 2007, TSI Titanium was tasked with the delivery of a Cessna Citation Mustang, new-generation light jet aircraft, affording Sobota the opportunity to earn his jet-pilot rating. To show his appreciation for getting his start at Pitt, Sobota established an Engineering Legacy Fund in 2006-one of the first legacy funds to benefit the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. Distinguished Young Alumni AwardAlka Patel 
Following the completion of her Pitt degree in 1996, Alka Patel began her career in the role of Metallurgical Engineer at Timken Latrobe Steel Company in Latrobe, PA. She was one of only a few women working at the plant at the time, where she was responsible for quality assurance, process reliability, and management of 20 union employees. In 1999, Patel joined GE Industrial Systems as a Sales Engineer Assistant while she simultaneously completed a Master's degree in Business Administration as well as a Juris Doctorate at Duquesne University, graduating in June 2001. Later that year, Patel began her law career as an Associate for Webb Ziesenheim Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C., where she drafted patent applications, validity/infringement opinions, and assisted with copyright matters. She further polished those skills with the use of her materials science degree and joined Pepper Hamilton, LLP in March 2004 as an Associate. In her new role, she focused most of her efforts on patents in the areas of materials science, chemicals, nanotechnology, medical devices, software, and business methods. In September 2007, Patel joined Allegheny Technologies, Inc. as Intellectual Property Counsel. Patel has received a number of awards and recognitions including being named "Women on the Verge" by the Legal Intelligencer & PA Law Weekly in 2006, a "Fast Tracker" by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2004, and Pittsburgh Magazine's "40 Under 40" in 2003. She has held positions with several professional organizations such as the Allegheny Bar Association, ASM International, and the Society of Women Engineers. She also serves a number of civic boards including the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh, and most recently, Patel founded the Asian Attorney Committee with the Allegheny County Bar Association. Patel was an active leader as a student, serving as President of the Engineering Student Council. She continues this service to Pitt today, currently serving as a Director at Large for the Pitt Alumni Association. |
Alumni ResourcesPublicationsSupport the School
About the School
|
Benedum Hall
Dedicated in 1971, Benedum Hall is home to exploration and discovery.
You are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Although this site is viewable in all browsers, it will look much better in a browser that supports web standards.