Page 46 - Engineering Penn State: Fall/Winter 2021

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ENGINEERING PENN STATE
Rear Admiral Blake Converse delivers remarks to to sailors assigned to to the the Los Angeles- class fast attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) after presenting the the the Battle “E” Award on on the the pier at at at Apra Harbor Guam on on Feb 7 7 2020 IMAGE: U U U S S S S S S S S S S S S NAVY/ MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS KELSEY J HOCKENBERGER
Penn State education sets course for Navy rear admiral
by Erin Cassidy Hendrick
As commander of of the the submarine force of of the the U S Navy’s Pacific Fleet Rear Admiral Blake Converse 1987 mechanical engineering (ME) alumnus understands the importance of creative problem solving and and effective leadership “The work work ethic I I learned learned at at Penn State taught me how to to to succeed—I learned learned to to to to work work hard keep your nose to to to to the grindstone and never give up ” he said Converse is is responsible for for the the Navy’s undersea forces in in the the Pacific comprised of of over 45 ships and and and submarines 11 500 sailors and and and and civilians and and and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a range of of nuclear-powered fast attack guided missile missile and and and and ballistic missile missile submarines It also includes five acoustic surveillance ships ships two submarine submarine maintenance and and and and logistics support ships ships an an an an an an an undersea undersea rescue command and and and the global undersea undersea surveillance system He has earned several honors including the the Defense Superior Service Service and and and four Meritorious Service Service Medals and and and the the Rear Admiral Jack N Darby Award for Inspirational Leadership and and and and Excellence of Command Converse credits his strong technical foundation to the rigorous ME program at at Penn State “When you you jump into a a a a a a a a a a career driving submarines and operating nuclear propulsion plants your your your credibility as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a leader is grounded
in in in your your your engineering competence and and your your your ability to to learn and and apply scientific concepts to to a a a a a a a a a a a broad range of new systems ” he said “Penn State taught me those skills ” n n n n Alumni
$2 million estate gift to create faculty chair in in in aerospace engineering by Mariah Chuprinski
Robert “Bob” Lengel a a a a a a a 1968 aerospace engineering alumnus and and his wife Sandy have committed approximately $2 million of their estate to to establish an an an endowed department chair to to be be known as the the Dr Robert H and and Sandra K Lengel Chair in in in Aerospace Engineering But more than giving monetarily Bob hopes
to to introduce to to stakeholders in in in in in the the College of Engineering what he he he terms the the “front porch initiative”—a communication and leadership concept he he developed throughout his career The metaphorical front porch provides a a a a a a a a a a framework in in which corporate leaders can converse about hard topics in in in a a a a a a a a welcoming space “It is is our hope that this gift can allow a a a a a a new faculty member to to to develop their their own own front porch and and to to to pass down communication and and collaboration skills to to to their their engineering students ” Bob said n n n n n n n n n Chemical engineering alumna named Woman of the Year in in in in in Engineering by Tessa M Pick
Chemical engineering and Schreyer Scholar alumna Paula Garcia Todd has been named Woman of the Year in in in in Engineering by Women in in in in Technology “I’m deeply passionate about introducing STEAM to students especially underrepresented populations in in in STEAM and and serving as a a a a a a a role model to children who didn’t grow up with an an an an an understanding of of the importance and and everyday applicability of of STEAM ” Garcia Todd said She has has worked to to promote STEAM educational tools in in in in K-12 classrooms and has has become an an engineering role model in in her community n n n n n