Howard Dittmer

Advisory Board Chair

VP of Engineering & Technology
ARPAC Group

Howard Dittmer is Vice President of Engineering and Technology at ARPAC LLC, a leading manufacturer of end of line packaging machinery. Howard received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech. He also holds a MS in Software Engineering from DePaul University where he is currently a PhD student in Software Engineering. Prior to joining ARPAC Howard was Executive Vice President at Herbst LaZar Bell, a leading product development firm. In addition he has served in executive engineering roles at Fluid Management, Rockwell International and General Signal. He was a founding advisory board member for Northwestern University’s Masters of Product Development program. He is currently a member of the ASME Industry Advisory Board.

John Blanton

Senior Engineer
GE Power & Water

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John Blanton is Owner and Chief Engineer of Classic Engineering, LLC, a provider of technical education and consulting services in gas turbine technologies. In 2016 he completed 36 years with the General Electric Company, focused primarily on aero-thermal design technologies for industrial and aircraft gas turbines. Dr. Blanton received BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech, and was on the teaching faculty there for one and a half years. He also has been an adjunct faculty at Union College in Schenectady NY and at the University of Cincinnati. He is a Fellow of both ASME and AIAA, and is an active volunteer leader in both organizations at local, regional, and institute levels.

B.J. (Joel) Burch

Vice President & General Manager
Nuclear Operations Group – Lynchburg
BWX Technologies Inc.

B. Joel Burch is the Vice President and General Manager of BWX Technologies, Inc., (BWXT) Nuclear Operations Group (NOG) in Lynchburg, Virginia. Joel oversees the operations of more than 2,200 technical and skilled employees in the manufacture of naval nuclear reactors for submarines and aircraft carriers, as well as providing nuclear fuel components for several high performance U.S. and international research and test reactor facilities.

During his 36 years with the company, most of his experience has been in leading operations, quality control, engineering and project/program management teams for Department of Energy and Research Test Reactors and Targets programs. His technical expertise has been in design and manufacturing. As part of BWXT NOG leadership team, he has extensive experience working closely with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Mr. Burch completed the Executive Program of the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. He earned a Master of Science in industrial administration from Lynchburg College and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

William T. Cousins, Ph.D.

Technical Fellow
United Technologies Research Center

Dr. Cousins holds BSME, MSME, and Ph.D. degrees from Virginia Tech, and is currently with United Technologies Research Center in East Hartford, Connecticut, holding the position of Technical Fellow in the aerodynamics area. His career includes positions at Virginia Tech, Pratt & Whitney, and Honeywell Engines. He has published extensively in the areas of axial and centrifugal compressor design, testing and measurements, inlet/engine integration, inlet distortion, stall and surge phenomena, and unsteady flow analysis, areas in which he has worked for over 35 years. Listed in Marquis’ Who’s Who in Science and Engineering and Who’s Who in the West, and also Strathmore’s Who’s Who, Dr. Cousins has received numerous awards for his technical work. A Life Fellow in ASME, Dr. Cousins has held numerous positions in the society, including sitting as a member of the Board of Governors. Currently, he is a Past Director of the Aircraft Engine Committee of the International Gas Turbine Institute.

Nicholas H. Des Champs, Ph.D.

President and Founder
Des Champs Technologies Corporation

Steve Drumheller

President
Mountain Precision Tool

Steve Drumheller is President of Mountain Precision Tool, a company he established in 2001. The Blacksburg company is a custom manufacturer of high-precision machined parts whose primary customers are suppliers to the electronics, aerospace, fiber optics, defense, and pharmaceuticals industries. Prior to 2001 Steve worked for Ingersoll-Rand Company for twenty-five years in research, product development, product management, and finally as Corporate Director of Engineering. Steve is a past chair of the ME Advisory Board, and he has served on the Board since 1997. He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech and his MBA from Rider College in Lawrenceville, NJ.

Susan Fioravante-Kolbay

Senior Mechanical Engineer
Leidos

Susan Fioravante-Kolbay is a senior mechanical engineer with Leidos in Reston, Virginia.  Since receiving her BSME with a Green Engineering concentration from Virginia Tech in 2002, Susan earned an MS in Engineering Management from The George Washington University in 2006. She has worked as a senior facility mechanical engineer with Booz Allen Hamilton, a senior mechanical engineer with Whitman, Requardt, & Associates LLP, an associate, mechanical engineer with Girard Engineering, P.C., and engineer I with Hayes, Seay, Mattern, and Mattern, and a test engineer at Virginia Tech. Susan was a volunteer math tutor at Woodson Adult High School for three years and is chairperson of the Architectual Review Board for Fair Oaks Estates. She is a PE and LEED AP

Michael Fleming

CEO and Co-Founder
TORC Robotics

Michael Fleming is the CEO and co-founder of Torc, a leading provider of self-driving solutions based in Blacksburg, VA.  Beginning operations in 2006 as a Virginia Tech student start-up, Torc developed the self-driving technology for team Victor Tango in the DARPA Urban Challenge.  Since its top three finish in this historic self-driving race, Fleming has overseen Torc’s rapid and organic growth to over 100 employees and commercialization of self-driving technology into automotive, mining, and military applications through OEM partnerships. Fleming received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech in 2002 and 2003

John D. Heilmann

Global Business Director, Offshore Products
Lord Corporation

John Heilmann joined the ME Advisory Board in 2010. He is a Virginia Tech alumnus, with both BS (1995) and MS degrees (1996) in Mechanical Engineering. After leaving Virginia Tech, John joined Lord Corporation, a privately-held company headquartered in Cary, NC. At Lord, John has held positions in design engineering and engineering management, focusing on flight-critical helicopter components. John has also served as product manager for Lord’s electromechanical product and elastomeric helicopter product lines. John is currently the global business director for Lord’s offshore elastomeric products, serving the oil and gas industry. While at Lord, John obtained a Pennsylvania professional engineer license and completed an MBA at UNC-Chapel Hill. John serves on Lord’s STEM Outreach and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation committees. John resides in Apex, NC.

Uma Jayaram, Ph.D.

Technology Executive and Entrepreneur

Dr. Uma Jayaram is a technology executive and entrepreneur with a distinguished career spanning enterprise, startups, and academia. Most recently, Dr. Jayaram was Managing Director and Principal Engineer at Intel, a Fortune 50 global technology company. She drove the growth and scaling of a global team of engineers and delivered cutting-edge immersive media solutions to the Winter Olympics, NFL, MLB, NBA, PGA Tour, and NCAA. Previously, Dr. Jayaram co-founded 3 companies: one in data interoperability solutions, one in enterprise design and process automation, and one in immersive media VR experiences for sports. She held COO and EVP roles in these companies. She sold her company VOKE to Intel in 2016. Early in her career, Dr. Jayaram was a Professor at Washington State University, where she led a vibrant teaching and research program.

Dr. Jayaram has been inducted as an ASME Fellow in recognition of her work and contributions in engineering. She has published over 60 peer reviewed articles and has been awarded numerous patents. She is a thought leader in digital transformation and emerging areas such as cloud, AI, VR, and design automation and has lectured internationally on these topics. She has received several prestigious awards including the Leadership Excellence in Technology award from the National Diversity Council, Lifetime Achievement award from ISAM, and Best teacher award from Washington State University.

Dr. Jayaram holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech. She has a BTech Honors degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India, where she was the first woman admitted to the Mechanical Engineering Department. Dr. Jayaram was inducted into the VT
Mechanical Engineering Society of Distinguished Alumni in 2019.

John R. Jones, III

President (Retired)
AEP ProServ

John Jones is currently a consultant to the electric power industry focusing on project and construction management.

Prior to consulting, he retired at the end of 2002 after 36 years as an executive with American Electric Power. At that time he held the corporate office of Senior Vice President and President of a subsidiary he created, AEP ProServ. His responsibilities included providing engineering, environmental, construction and maintenance services to AEP’s 38,000 MW generation fleet plus providing those services on a competitive basis to external customers domestically and internationally. During his career, he was responsible for the project management, construction and start-up of approximately 15,000 MW’s of coal, gas, wind and nuclear generation.

Jones holds a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech and Management Development Certificates from the University of Michigan and MIT’s Sloan School of Management. He is a member of the VT College of Engineering’s “Academy of Engineering Excellence”.

Mary “Prim” Jones

Executive Director of Engineering (Retired)
Aerojet Cooporation

Mary Jones Berry P.E. is a 1962 Virginia Tech Mechanical Engineering graduate with a MS in ME from George Washington University. She retired in 2008 as the Executive Director of Engineering at Aerojet Corporation. Her expertise is in solid propellant rocket motor design. She devoted part of her career as the chief engineer of the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).

She was the first woman registered as a Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She was the first woman to be inducted in the Academy of Engineering Excellence at Virginia Tech and in 2002 the District of Columbia Council of Engineering and Architectural Societies awarded her the Engineer of the Year award. Mary is a former President of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association and now served as an honorary member of the Alumni Board.

Damien McCants

Business Development Manager
Mortenson Construction

Damien McCants graduated from Virginia Tech with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 2003 and an MBA in 2014. He is a project manager with Mortenson Construction in McLean, Virginia, working in their Federal Contracting Group. Damien has also held positions at Carrier Corporation, Johnson Controls and Critchfield Mechanical. He holds a LEED Accredited Professional Certification. He currently resides in Ashburn, Virginia with his wife, Krystal.

Douglas C. Rabe, Ph.D.

Director, Turbine Engine Research Center
USAF Research Laboratory

 Michael J. Reilley, PE

Director, Nuclear Propulsion-Construction Engineering
Newport News Shipbuilding

Michael J. Reilley is Director of the CVN21 Propulsion Engineering at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, VA. He is responsible for design of the Propulsion Plant on the new Ford Class aircraft carriers.

He joined Newport News in 1984 as an associate engineer and has held a number of positions during his career including lead mechanical engineer, Manager, Virginia Class Submarine-Nuclear Construction Engineering and Manager, Propulsion Plant Construction Engineering for the Ford Class Aircraft Carrier and Director of the Nuclear Propulsion-Construction and Process Engineering.

Reilley earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia in 1984 and a Master’s in Engineering Management from George Washington University in 1992. He is a Licensed Engineer in the State of Virginia.

About Newport News Shipbuilding:

Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, is the nation’s sole designer, builder and refueler of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of only two shipyards capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines. NNS also provides fleet services for naval ships and recently expanded its nuclear and manufacturing expertise into Department of Energy and alternative energy business ventures. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, the shipyard’s vast facilities span more than 500 acres along two miles of waterfront on the historic James River. It is the largest industrial employer in Virginia, employing more than 20,000 people, many of whom are third and fourth generation shipbuilders. For more information, please visit www.huntingtoningalls.com.

J. David Rives

Sr. Vice President, Electric Distribution (Retired)
Dominion Energy

A 1980 graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Dave received his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1999.  He enjoyed a 35 year career with Dominion Energy, the majority of which was focused on power station operations, training and leadership.  He held leadership positions with the company’s non-nuclear power generation business unit in various roles including: Managing Director – Merchant Operations, Vice President – Technical Services, Vice President – Regulated Operations and finally as Senior Vice President – Power Generation.  In 2014 he was named Senior Vice President – Electric Distribution.  Dave retired in 2016.

Dave and his wife Pam are currently focused on volunteer opportunities and enjoying their family at their lakeside home on Leesville Lake south of Lynchburg, VA.  Currently Dave serves as President of the Leesville Lake Association and Vice – Chair of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing.

Jay A. Rule, Jr.

Senior Principal Engineer
WestRock Corporation

Jay Rule serves as Senior Principal Engineer at WestRock’s Covington, Virginia paperboard mill. He joined the Westvaco Covington Research Lab in 1989, conducting applied production research, followed by supervisory responsibilities in the Covington mill starting in 2002. Following mergers in 2001 with Mead, and in 2015 with RockTenn, the packaging solutions company is now named WestRock.  Jay currently supervises the mill’s young process engineers as well as leading project work in production performance analysis, and thermal/fluids/heat transfer process improvement. He received BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from VPI&SU and served as an instructor there from 1980 through 1989. Jay is a registered professional engineer in Virginia.  He and his wife Jeanne reside in Daleville, VA.

Angela Scribben

Research Engineer
U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory

Angela Scribben is a research engineer with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. Angela received her BSME and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 2000 and 2003, respectively. In her role at AFRL she leads in-house research and development of propulsion integration concepts for future subsonic aircraft applications. She also leads contracted efforts to develop advanced subsonic inlets for embedded mobility configuration installation including analytical and experimental work. Her work also includes collaboration with NASA on dual-use high lift technologies for extremely short take-off and landing, and work to better understand serpentine inlet aerodynamics.

John F. Sparks

Program Director, Engineering and Technology Programs
Aerojet Rocketdyne

Dr. John F. Sparks is a Program Director at Aerojet Rocketdyne and has program management responsibility for early development and advanced technology programs. Aerojet Rocketdyne is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader providing propulsion and energetics to the space, missile defense, strategic, tactical missile and armaments areas in support of domestic and international markets. Dr. Sparks has Bachelor (1974), Masters (1976), and Ph.D (1981) degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech. In addition to his membership on the Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board, Dr. Sparks heads the College of Engineering Advisory Board Legislative Committee. Dr. Sparks is the College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus for 2014.

Keith Van Houten

Manager, Active Safety & Automated Driving Performance Simulation Group,
General Motors’ Center for Autonomous Vehicle Development

Previous assignments include the Lead Development Engineer for the Buick Regal program, and multiple assignments within GM’s noise and vibration and vehicle integration organizations.  A former Solar Car team leader as a student at Virginia Tech, he’s continued his involvement with VT’s Ware Lab, mentoring the Hokies’ HEVT team in the Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC) program since 2004.  He’s led the GM Virginia Tech campus team for more than 20 years, responsible for recruiting, faculty engagement, and corporate philanthropy.  He joined General Motors in 1991 and works at the GM Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan.  Keith holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech, and an Master of Science in Strategic Management from Indiana University.  Keith was inducted into the VT Mechanical Engineering Society of Distinguished Alumni in 2018.