Alumnus Dave Martin Honored as Distinguished Engineer

Fred David “Dave” Martin received the Whitacre College of Engineering Distinguished Engineer Award this spring.  Dave graduated from Texas Tech in 1960 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He has more than 50 years’ experience in industry and academia in both field applications and research related to oil and gas production.  For almost 20 years, he was employed at the Petroleum Recovery Research Center (PRRC), a division of New Mexico Tech in Socorro, New Mexico and served as director of PRRC from 1987-1996. His research focused on improved water flooding and enhanced oil recovery, as well as management of petroleum industry wastes and carbon sequestration.  One of his important contributions has been the development and implementation of the Gas and Oil Technology Exchange and Communication Highway (GO-TECH), the first Website developed for the petroleum industry.  He has also served the State of New Mexico, as Cabinet Secretary of the Environment Department from 2011 - 2013, and since 2013, as Secretary of the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department.  Recently, he developed an Energy Policy and Implementation Plan for the State of New Mexico, the first official policy for the state in almost 25 years.  Dave has 16 patents and is author or coauthor of more than 60 technical papers on petroleum production. In addition to his degree at Texas Tech, he received a Master of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from New Mexico Tech.  Dave has four children, ten grandchildren, and one great grandson. He and his wife Dorothy live in the mountains east of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Coon to Lead Chemical Engineering Academy

Chris Coon, Manager of Refining Procurement for Phillips 66, and based in Houston is a long-time supporter of the department.  He has served on the Executive Advisory Board for five years and, in that capacity, has helped us assess the undergraduate program, particularly from an industrial perspective.  Chris has agreed to take on the initiative of reinvigorating the Chemical Engineering Academy, an alumni group formed initially by John Mihm in 2003, whose purpose was to create and increase an endowment that can be used by the department to enhance the administration and quality of education in the department.  The endowment funds are specifically designated towards scholarships, graduate fellowships, student recruitment, and other activities that enhance the education mission of the department.  If you are interested in helping Chris with this effort, feel free to contact him at c.p.coon@p66.com.