The world’s first private female space explorer, several successful entrepreneurs, a former NASA division director, the president of ManTech International’s Mission, Cyber & Technology Solutions Group, and a professor emeritus were all inducted into the GW Engineering Hall of Fame Oct. 27.
Established in 2006, the GW Engineering Hall of Fame recognizes and honors distinguished SEAS alumni, faculty, staff and friends who have contributed to engineering, technology or management in a sustained and significant way during their careers. The 2011 GW Engineering Hall of Fame Inductees are:
- Anousheh Ansari, SEAS MS ’92, chief executive officer and co-founder of Prodea Systems. She is the fourth private space traveler and the first Muslim woman in space. While she was on campus for the awards ceremony, she discussed how she accomplished her lifelong goal of space flight.
- Nelson A. Carbonell, SEAS BS ’85, member of the GW Board of Trustees and an entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience. Most recently, in 2010, he founded Nelson Carbonell and Associates to assist middle market companies with strategy, financing, operations, and technology.
- Randolph A. Graves, Jr., SEAS PhD ’78, has more than 40 years experience in aerospace technology research, development, commercialization and management. After serving for 26 years at NASA, he has been the CEO and chairman of several start-up companies. He also has continued his technology consulting through Graves Technology Inc., a consulting company he founded in 1991.
- Arnold C. Meltzer, SEAS BS ’58, MS ’61, PhD ’67, has been affiliated with GW since enrolling as a student in 1954. He joined the professorial ranks at GW in 1962, and became full professor in 1975. He, more than anyone, is responsible for originating the computer science and computer engineering programs at SEAS. In 2005, after 45 years of teaching at GW, he retired as professor emeritus of engineering and applied science.
- Asghar D. Mostafa, SEAS BS ’81, MS ’82, has spent more than 25 years creating and building technology companies. In April 2011, he started his newest venture, Rubriq Corporation.
- L. William Varner, III, SEAS BS ’73, is the president of the Mission, Cyber & Technology Solutions Group (MCTS) of ManTech International Corporation, a 2,700-person group of professionals supporting the intelligence and defense communities. Mr. Varner joined ManTech in 2009, after a long career with Northrop Grumman TASC.
Complete bios of the winners are available on the SEAS website.
