Distinguished Engineer Citations

                 

Albert A. Smith

Distinguished Engineer

1991

Degree

Electrical Engineering – 1966

 

Citation

At Time of Nomination in 1991

Born January 25, 1944, in Shamrock, Texas, Albert A. "Pete" Smith has spent his entire professional career in engineering and engineering and corporate management. He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1966, with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering.

Mr. Smith began his career in 1965 at Southwestern Public Service Company as a summer engineer. After graduation, he worked at SPS as a design engineer until he served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1969 to 1972, where he was an engineering duty officer and ship superintendent. After his military service, he returned to Southwestern Public Service in 1972 as a Supervisory Engineer. He became Senior Engineer in 1974 and Principal Engineer in 1977. In 1978, he was named Manager of Plant Engineering. In 1986, Mr. Smith was named Director of Generation Plant Design and Construction. From 1985 to 1989, he served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Utility Engineering Corporation, a subsidiary of SPS. From 1987 to 1989, he was Vice President of Generation Plant Design and Construction for SPS. From 1989 to the present, he has served as President and CEO of Utility Engineering Corporation. In 1990 and 1991, Mr. Smith was elected to the Board of Directors of Utility Engineering Corporation, where he currently serves as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director.

In addition to his having held numerous positions in two corporations, Mr. Smith is active in the Lubbock and Amarillo communities. He is a former member of the Technology Chair Search Committee for Texas Tech University and is currently Chairman of the Texas Tech Electrical Engineering Industrial Advisory Board. He is a former member of the board of Goodwill Industries and of various Chamber of Commerce committees including the committee to bring the Superconducting Super Collider to the Panhandle. The efforts of that group resulted in the Panhandle’s proposal being one of two selected for statewide sponsorship. He is a member of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and is currently serving on the Pantex Re–configuration Task Force. In addition, he is a former Kids, Inc. coach, has served on and chaired various church committees, and is a former assistant scoutmaster.

His honors include being named Panhandle Chapter of TSPE’s Outstanding Young Engineer of the Year in October 1977; Panhandle Chapter of TSPE’s Engineer of the Year for 1986; and Goodwill Volunteer of the Year for 1989 to 1990. At Tech he was elected a member of Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu, and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies.

Mr. Smith and his wife, Darlene, have three children, Leigh, Tiffany, and Catherine, The Smiths reside in Amarillo.

It is with great pride that Texas Tech names Albert A. Smith DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER.

Return to the Past Winners page.