Distinguished Engineer Citations

Todd Denton 

 

Distinguished Engineer

2025

Degree

B.S. Electrical Engineering - Texas Tech 1986

M.S. Finance and Economics - West Texas A&M 1996

Citation

Todd Denton is Senior Vice President of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and Field Operations Support for Phillips 66, a diversified energy company. Todd has more than 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, with an extensive background in pipeline and terminal projects and operations.

Todd was born in Amarillo, Texas and graduated from Plainview High School before attending Texas Tech. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1986 and later received a Master of Science in Finance and Economics from West Texas A&M in 1996, where he was named graduate student of the year for the School of Business.

Following graduation from Texas Tech University in 1986, Todd began his career at the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, designing quality assurance electrical systems for the testing of nuclear weapons during final assembly. He then became a Projects Engineer at Diamond Shamrock in 1990, primarily working automation and controls projects on pipeline and terminal assets, before progressing to manage large projects.

Todd was promoted to Director of Engineering in 2003 following Valero Energy’s acquisition of Diamond Shamrock. He moved into Operations with Valero as General Manager, based in Corpus Christi in 2005, managing the Central West Region covering 4 states and northern Mexico. NuStar Energy was spun out of Valero in 2007, and Todd was named as Vice President, Pipeline & Terminal Operations. He then joined Phillips 66 in 2012, as President of Phillips 66 Pipeline LLC, a subsidiary of Phillips 66. Todd oversaw significant growth by Phillips 66 within their Midstream business unit and by 2022 managed an organization of 1300 employees operating 12,000 miles of pipelines. Phillips 66 Pipeline greatly improved their safety and pipeline safety performance during this period which culminated in the receipt of three consecutive Distinguished Pipeline Safety Awards in the Large Operator category by the American Petroleum Institute, or API, for the years 2020 through 2022.

Todd currently serves on the board of directors of the American Red Cross Greater Houston Chapter and on the United Way Greater Houston Disaster Alliance Council. He previously served on the board of directors of DCP Midstream, LP and the Association of Oil Pipelines. Todd was elected Chairman of the Board of the Association of Oil Pipelines in 2011 and 2012. He also was a member of the United States Department of Transportation Technical Advisory Committee 

through 2022. Todd was appointed to the committee by former Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao in 2017 as one of only 5 industry executives.

Todd was honored by North American Energy Pipelines in 2021 with the Pipeline Leadership Award, which is presented each year to an individual in the oil and gas pipeline industry that has exhibited distinguished leadership.

Todd remains active with Texas Tech University, serving on the Whitacre College of Engineering Dean’s Council. In addition, together with his wife, D’Aun, they established the Rick Butler Memorial Endowment Fund within the Texas Tech College of Engineering following the loss of his best friend in 2011 from a hard-fought battle with cancer. Rick was a Texas Tech University Engineering alumni with a special passion for the school, mentoring and hiring many fellow Texas Tech graduates throughout his career. 

Todd met his wife D’Aun in Lubbock while attending Texas Tech and have been married for 38 years. They live in Houston, while also spending many weekends and holidays in the Texas Hill Country at their home in Boerne. The Dentons are very proud of their four children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.   

Their oldest child, Dr. Kaylee Denton Alonzo (Baylor 2016, UT Health Sciences Center 2020), is a dentist in Clarksville, Tennessee. TJ Denton (Texas Tech 2018), lives in Amarillo and is a Chemical Engineer at the Phillips 66 Borger Refinery. Shelby Denton (Texas Tech 2022) is a Commercial Interior Designer in Dallas, and Alek Denton (UT Health Sciences Center 2024) is a paramedic for Kendall County near San Antonio. Kaylee is married to Cpt. Matthew Alonzo, D.D.S, a dentist for the United States Army stationed at Fort Campbell, Tennessee. Kaylee and Matt have two children, Anna (3) and Lucy (1). TJ is married to Dr. Lauren Denton, an optometrist practicing in Amarillo. 

Todd enjoys spending as much time as possible with his family, especially on the yearly vacations that he meticulously plans for them. Todd is also an avid Texas Tech sports fan and a proud member of the Red Raider Club.