Texas Tech University

2022 Inductees

 

Amit Armstrong, PhD, PE, PMP

AAEarned Degrees:
B.S. Civil Engineering, 1988*
M.S.C.E., 1994
Ph.D., 1998

Project Manager 
Federal Highway Administration, Western Lands Highway Division

Amit Armstrong is a project manager for the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Western Federal Lands Highway Division in Vancouver, WA. He has been with FHWA for over 20 years and enjoys working in national parks and forests from Wyoming to Alaska. He was instrumental in developing a program to integrate native revegetation and pollinator-friendly vegetation on roadsides in federally managed lands. Prior to FHWA, Amit worked for Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, TX as a Senior Research Engineer, and managed the saturated zone numerical modeling for a high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. He is active in the American Society of Civil Engineering and the Project Management Institute. Amit completed the Executive Coaching Certificate from Case Western Reserve University, and helps leaders make sustainable change in their lives. Amit lives in West Linn, Oregon with his family, and is perpetually working on growing the perfect heirloom tomato.

Callie Bletsch, PE

CBEarned Degrees:
B.S. Environmental Engineering, 2000
M.Env.E., 2000

Senior Vice President/Co-Founder
MBCO Engineering, LLC

Callie Bletsch, co-founder of MBCO Engineering and Surveying (MBCO), lives in Richmond, Texas with her husband Michael and two fur-babies, Cima and Zaya. Callie has been personally and professionally invested in the Houston engineering community for 23 years. Over the past decade, she has served on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo within various committees. After engineering, her other favorite activities include travel, RVing, cooking, and wine. Currently a Level 2 Sommelier, she has her sights set on Level 3! In the past seven years, MBCO has grown from two partners to 33 employees and continues to grow stronger than ever.

Aubrey Brockman, PE

ABEarned Degrees:
B.S. Civil Engineering, 2011

Project Manager
Kimley-Horn

Aubrey Brockman graduated from Texas Tech with a BSCE in 2011. Aubrey spent her early career working as a Land Development engineer in the Houston area with Jones & Cater and Manhard Consulting. In 2020, Aubrey moved back to her hometown Lubbock, Texas and later joined Kimley-Horn to start the Development Services practice in West Texas. 

Aubrey and her husband Kyle, also a civil engineer at Kimley-Horn, love spending time with their young daughter Meredith, three dogs, and family. Aubrey enjoys craft cocktails, knitting, and finding plot holes in the ever-expanding Star Wars universe.

Jennifer Davidson, PE, CFM

JDEarned Degrees:
B.S. Civil Engineering, 2005

Director of Public Works/Road Superintendent
Lubbock County

Since Jennifer's 2005 graduation, she has faithfully dedicated her service to TxDOT and the City of Lubbock and currently serves as Lubbock County's Director of Public Works. Through her dedicated efforts, she has increased interlocal cooperation among the local government entities. She was instrumental in creating and implementing the County's Transportation Road Improvement Program.  This identified road infrastructure projects that led to the County's first $99.6 million dollars road bond issuance. These projects earned the County the South Plains NSPE-TX Trailblazer Award in 2020.  Jennifer and her husband Tanner have 3 children and are a proud farming family on the South Plains.

Ronald C. Emmons, PE

REEarned Degrees:
B.S. Civil Engineering, 1988

Senior Project Manager
Garcia Infrastructure Consultants

Ron Emmons received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech in 1988.  Ron lives in Bulverde with his amazing bride of nearly 30 years and considers himself extremely blessed to have six incredibly bright and uniquely diverse children and one brand new grandson. 

Ron has worked across the US in the water and wastewater industry for over 30 years, with a background that includes working for large and small municipal utilities, county and city governments, and engineering consultants. Ron is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas, Maryland, and Arizona. He is also a TCEQ “Double-A” licensed operator in Water and Wastewater Treatment. Ron is currently a Senior Project Manager for Garcia Infrastructure Consultants.

Ron is active in the local San Antonio chapter for the Water Environment Association of Texas. He has served multiple roles: Past-President, President, Vice President, and Secretary. He is currently the chapter Section Representative to the WEAT Board.

Jonathan Gresham, PE, CPM

JGEarned Degrees:
Management, B.B.A., 1990
B.S. Civil Engineering, 1997

Retired

Jonathan Gresham was the Director of Water Utilities for the City of Amarillo and worked for the City of Amarillo for 23 years. He is a Registered Professional Engineer as well as a Public Certified Manager.  

Jonathan received his Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech. Jonathan is passionate about water and was dedicated to providing safe clean drinking water to the citizens of Amarillo. He grew up in Amarillo and has lived here most of his life. In his free time, Jonathan has been known to play a round of golf or two and likes to stream fish.

Jonathan is married to Joie Taylor and together are the proud parents of four boys, Mitchell, Nicholas, Logan and Cody.

Jonathan is also a member of the American Society of Professional Engineers and American Water Works Association.

Ryan Hanford

RHEarned Degrees:
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2003
M.B.A., 2012*

Director of Product Management
Baker Hughes

Ryan has 19 years of oil and gas experience working in various service and manufacturing roles, including engineering, sales, marketing, product management, and software development.  He has 6 patents and has published multiple industry papers and presentations.  He graduated from Texas Tech University in 2003 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology and received his MBA from Rice University in 2012.  In 2012, he served as the founding Chairman of Young Guns and is currently serving as Vice Chair for the CECE Advisory Council.  Ryan lives in Houston, TX and is a Director of Product Management for Baker Hughes.  His family includes his wife Claudia and two sons Lukah and Enzo.

George R. Herrmann, PhD, PE, PH, D WRE

GHEarned Degrees:
B.S. Civil Engineering, 1988
M.S.C.E., 2002
Ph.D., 2013

Principal/Owner; Instructor
Desert Sky Engineering and Hydrology, PC; Texas Tech University

A native of Del Rio, Texas, George R. Herrmann, also known as “Rudy,” graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech in 1988. After graduation, he began a career with the agency now known as Texas Department of Transportation in Pampa, Amarillo District, and then to the San Angelo District Office.  In 2001-2002, the TxDOT Master's Program allowed him to return to TTU for an MSCE degree. In 2009, he became the Assistant Regional Director for Project Delivery for the TxDOT West Region. 

After retiring from TxDOT in 2012, he earned a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, also from TTU.  Since 2016, he has taught at TTU in the CECE Department. He has authored, coauthored, and presented numerous papers on highway drainage and hydrology.

Dr. Herrmann is proud to have served 12 years in the reserve components of the U.S. Army, entering as an infantry soldier, and becoming an infantry officer through Texas Tech Army ROTC.  

Chad Jones

CJEarned Degrees:
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1999

President
Turbine Supply Company

After graduating from Texas Tech College of Engineering in 1999, Chad has spent over 20 years designing, developing, and manufacturing numerous consumer and industrial products, while authoring over 55 patents.  He recently acquired Turbine Supply Company in Lubbock, a 37-year-old manufacturing company, specializing in OEM water pump components.  Chad, his wife Chelsea, also a Tech graduate, daughter Ella, a soon to be Red Raider, and daughter Ashlee, hopefully a Red Raider in a few years, are looking forward to moving back to West Texas from Frisco next summer. 

Michael Ward

MWEarned Degrees:
B.S. Construction Engineering, 2004

Executive Vice President
Greater Metroplex Interiors, Inc.

Michael Ward graduated from Texas Tech with a Construction Engineering Technology degree in 2004.  Michael began his career with Turner Construction at their DFW office. In 2011, Michael took a role with GMI as their Director of Preconstruction and Business Development for all their Texas offices.  GMI continues to be one of the largest metal framing and acoustical contractors in the State of Texas with over 1200 employees. 

In 2017, Michael became the Vice President of Preconstruction for GMI, overseeing more than $1 Billion dollars in annual estimating volume. In 2021, Michael became GMI's Executive Vice President where he currently contributes to the overall company goals, oversight, and growth.

Michael lives in Dallas, Texas and is married to Whitney who is a CEO in the oil and gas industry.  They have two beautiful girls, Reese and Scottie.   They are active in their Community Church (Watermark) and love to travel and experience new places and things as a family. 

Department of Civil, Environmental, & Construction Engineering

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