Alumni Awards of Distinction

Dave Sykes awarded

Do you know a fellow SJSU Engineering alumnus or alumna who has achieved superior professional accomplishments and/or has demonstrated outstanding citizenship through significant community or professional service? Nominate them for the annual Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award. You can also nominate yourself. Examples of past winners include: Omid Kordestani (Senior VP at Google), Mark Pasquale (Engineering VP at Lockheed Martin Space), Dave Sykes (City Manager for San Jose), Gonzalo Eduardo Mendoza (Textron Aviation). The person you nominate must be available to attend the Engineering Showcase & Celebration on April 15th, 2024 from 4:00om - 6:00pm. Deadline for nominations is October 1, 2023.

Name Position Company Year Rec'd Degree Year of SJSU Graduation
Gonzalo Eduardo Mendoza Director of Engineering Textron Aviation 2023 Aerospace Engineering 1998
Huy Tran Director of Aeronautics NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) 2022    
Jim Puzar Senior Operations Development Manager  Jabil 2021 Industrial Technology 1985
Dave Sykes City Manager City of San Jose 2019 Civil Engineering 1991, 1995
Mark A. Pasquale Vice President, Engineering & Technology LM Space 2018 Mechanical Engineering 1984
Roger Thornton Founder Fortify Software 2017 Engineering 1987, 1994
Roy Kusumoto Founder Solectron and Trillium Industries 2016 Mechanical Engineering 1966
Donald G. Newnan Professor Emeritus Industrial & Systems Engineering, SJSU 2015 Civil Engineering, BS 1951
Daniel L. Cheadle, Sr. Founder
Sr. Director
Cougar Components Corp.
Telegyne Microwave Solutions
2014 Electrical Engineering, BS 1967
Steven Nasiri Founder, CEO, Chairman Invensense 2013 Mechanical Engineering, MS 1981
Robert A. Bigler Co-Founder, CEO Animatics Corp.  2013 Mechanical Engineering, BS 1987
Punita Pandit Bigler Co-Founder, VP of Operations Animatics Corp. 2013 Mechanical Engineering BS, MS 1984, 1987
Chia-Juch Chang Chairman China Airlines 2012 Civil Engineering MS 1976
Amarjit Gill Co-Founder and CEO Maginatics, Inc. 2012 Electrical Engineering BS 1983
Mark Van Tine President and CEO Jeppesen 2011 Aeronautics, BS 1980
Sandeep Vij President and CEO MIPS Technology, Inc. 2011 Electrical Engineering, BS 1987
Muhammad Raghib Hussain CTO and Corporate Vice President Cavium Networks 2010 Computer Engineering, MS 1997
Joseph Parisi Founder and President Therma Corporation 2010 Mechanical Engineering 1965
John W. Davis President TMFC 2009 Industrial Technology BS 1970
Jayan Ramankutty Entrepreneur & Founding CEO YuMe Networks 2009 Computer Engineering MS 1991
L. Carl Harris Founder & Chairman of the Board Harris & Associates 2008 Civil Engineering BS (Civil Engineering MS) 1963 (1967)
Julie A. Sattler Vice President, Engineering Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company 2008 Aeronautical Engineering BS 1983
Lee Chen Founder and CEO A10 Networks, Inc. 2007 Electrical Engineering MS 1982
Joseph E. Louis President Louis Engineering Corporation and M.J.M. Land Development Co. Inc. 2007 Civil Engineering BS 1969
Carolyn Guidry President Mark and Carolyn Guidry Foundation 2006 Computer Engineering MS 1979
Peter McGrath Former Sector Vice President Science Applications International Corp. 2006 Mechanical Engineering BS 1965
Omid Kordestani Sr. Vice President Worldwide Sales & Field Operations Google, Inc. 2005 Electrical Engineering BS 1984
Gust Perlegos Co-Founder and Executive Vice President Atmel Corporation 2005 Electrical Engineering BS 1969
Anthony J. Banta Vice President Worldwide Operations Cisco Systems 2004 Aeronautics BS 1970
Mahmoud "Max" Gahrahmat Partner Geomax 2004 Civil Engineering BS (Civil Engineering MS) 1969 (1976)
Nancy Wheeler-Nelson Vice President Engineering Communication Products, Trimble Navigation Ltd. 2002 Electrical Engineering BS 1979
Bernard S. Siegal President Thermal Engineering Associates, Inc. 2002 Electrical Engineering MS 1966
Joseph D. Countryman President MBK Engineers 2001 Civil Engineering BS 1966
Thomas M. Blalock President Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board 2000 Civil Engineering BS 1954
Francis F. Huang Professor Emeritus Mechanical Engineering, SJSU 2000 Production Engineering BS 1951
Mel Blevins Watermaster Upper Los Angeles River Area Watermaster 1999 Civil Engineering BS 1957
Brad Mattson Chairman & CEO Mattson Technology, Inc. 1999 Aeronautics BS 1976
Gary L. Yancey President, CEO & Chairman of the Board Applied Signal Technology 1999 Electrical Engineering MS 1970
Wayne K. Tanda Director Streets and Traffic, City of San Jose 1998 Civil Engineering BS (Civil Engineering MS) 1971 (1973)
George Perlegos Founder, President & CEO Atmel Corp. 1997 Electrical Engineering 1972
Helmut Krawinkler Professor Stanford University 1996 Civil Engineering 1967
Maurice D. Roos Chief Hydrologist Dept. of Water Recources, State of CA 1996 Civil Engineering 1957
L. Thomas Tobin Consultant Tobin & Associates 1996 Civil Engineering 1972
Alden V. Munson Vice President Intelligence Market Area-TRW Systems Integration Group 1996 Mechanical Engineering 1965
Thomas W. Collins Director of Engineering Operations Systems Development Division, Tandem Computers Inc. 1995 Electrical Engineering 1961
Peter Kaldveer President Harza Engineering Company of California 1995 Civil Engineering 1963
John J. Silveira Deputy Director Dept. of Water Resources, State of CA 1995 Civil Engineering 1959
Koichi Nishimura President & Chief Executive Officer Solectron Corp. 1994 Electrical Engineering 1963
E. P. "Gene" Reilly Vice President and Chief Engineer Southern Pacific Lines 1994 Civil Engineering 1971
Douglas Carnaham Vice President & General Manager Hewlett-Packard Company 1993 Electrical Engineering 1965
Theodore C. Fairfield President Fairco Properties, Inc. 1993 Civil Engineering 1959
Anthony N. Lapine Chief Executive Officer Lapine Technology Corp. 1993 Electrical Engineering 1965
E. Gene Bruner Manager Facilities & Planning Georgia Pacific Corp. 1992 Mechanical Engineering 1959
Randall M. German Brush Chair in Materials Pennsylvania State University 1992 Materials Science 1968
Roger W. Werne Director of Engineering Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 1992 Civil Engineering 1967
Finis F. Conner Chairman & CEO Connor Peripherals 1991 Industrial Management 1969
Charles W. Davidson President C.W. Davidson Company 1991 Civil Engineering 1956
James W. McCoy Vice President MacKay & Somps, Inc. 1991 Civil Engineering 1964
Jane G. Evans Grants Specialist Hewlett-Packard Company 1990 Electrical Engineering 1965
Arthur L. Money President ESL/TRW 1990 Mechanical Engineering 1965
Dale W. Pilgeram Vice President of Development IBM-General Products Division 1990 Electrical Engineering 1967
James W. Adkisson President Insite Peripherals 1989 Electrical Engineering 1969
David A. Brown President and Member of the Board Quantum Corp. 1989 Mechanical Engineering 1968
Paul F. Fratessa President Paul F. Fratessa Associates 1988 Civil Engineering 1960
Daniel H. Lowry President Grade-Way Construction 1988 Civil Engineering 1956
Riyad S. AbuZayyad President Rolm Corp - IBM 1987 Mechanical Engineering 1961
Phillip E. Allen Professor Georgia Institute of Technology 1987 Electrical Engineering 1962
Joseph D. Andrade, Jr. Dean of Engineering University of Utah 1987 Materials Engineering 1965
F.G. Butterfield Executive Vice President CBI Industries, Inc. 1986 Civil Engineering 1952
Robert J. Frankenberg General Manager Hewlett-Packard Company 1986 Computer Engineering 1974
Robert Kochis President Condor Systems 1985 Electrical Engineering 1963
A. Phillip Bray President & CEO Renewable Resource Systems 1984 Mechanical Engineering 1951
Alvin R. Zeman President Zeman-Rittenhouse & Associates 1984 Civil Engineering 1964
James O. Leckie Professor Stanford University 1983 Civil Engineering 1964
Howard E. Wolnowsky Division Manager Lockheed Missiles & Space Company 1983 Electrical Engineering 1962
Richard F. Byers Vice President Guy F. Atkinson Construction 1982 Civil Engineering 1951
Luis F. Diaz President Cal Recovery Systems 1982 Mechanical Engineering 1972
Raymond A. Smelek General Manager Hewlett-Packard Company 1982 Electrical Engineering 1959
Robert MacLellan Vice President FMC Corp. 1981 General Engineering 1949
Onslow H. "Rudy" Rudolph, Jr. Chairman of the Board and Founder Rudolph & Sletten, Inc. 1981 Civil Engineering 1950
Donald R. Beall President & CEO Rockwell International 1980 Metallurgical Engineering 1960
Norman O. Gunderson Dean Emeritus SJSU 1980    
William D. Nix Professor Stanford University 1980 Materials Engineering 1959
Charles Swall President IBM - Systems Technology Division 1980 Industrial Engineering 1965