Two faculty members and three alumni from the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). This honor recognizes their significant contributions to fields such as nuclear power plant safety, landslide forecasting, LED lighting, integrated circuit processors, and crane safety. The Cockrell School now has 23 active NAE members.
The election to the academy is a prestigious recognition for engineers who have made outstanding contributions to research and practice in engineering. Membership acknowledges those who have pioneered new technologies and significantly advanced the engineering profession.
“Congratulations to the courageous engineers chosen for membership in the National Academy of Engineering,” said Roger Bonnecaze, dean of the Cockrell School. “Their innovations have impacted our daily lives in many ways, including faster and more efficient technology, safer and more reliable energy, protection from natural hazards, and more.”
Dale E. Klein, a professor in the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, was recognized “for leadership in the development of programs that enhance the safety of nuclear power plants worldwide.” Klein's career includes serving as chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and assisting with defense programs related to nuclear safety.
Ellen Rathje from the Fariborz Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering received recognition “for contributions to seismic slope assessment and site response analysis and development of cyberinfrastructure for natural hazards engineering.” Her work includes establishing DesignSafe, a program aimed at improving disaster resilience through data.
Alumni Michael Krames was honored “for contributions to high-brightness visible-spectrum light-emitting diodes” (LEDs). As part of his achievements in LED technology innovation, he introduced advancements like LED automotive headlights.
Mark Papermaster serves as chief technology officer at AMD. He was acknowledged “for leadership in design and production of complex integrated circuit processors.” His efforts were crucial in AMD’s rise as a semiconductor leader through process re-engineering leading to new architecture systems.
Jimmy Don Wiethorn is recognized as an expert on crane engineering "for research on analysis of crane accidents," which has improved accident tracking and safety measures globally. His extensive investigations into over 1,280 crane accidents contributed significantly to technological improvements and training enhancements.