Distinguished Engineer Citations

                 

Louis Gritzo, Ph.D.

Distinguished Engineer

2014

Degree

B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering – 1988, 1990, 1992

 

Citation

At Time of Nomination in 2014

Dr. Louis Gritzo grew up in New Mexico and attended Los Alamos High School. In 1983, he enrolled at Texas Tech University, earning Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in mechanical engineering and a minor in applied mathematics.

After completing his Ph.D. in 1992, Gritzo spent 13 years of his career at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he rose from technical staff member to manager. He oversaw a department of researchers, engineers, and technologists who provided computational and experimental research, development and application solutions in fire science and technology for the Department of Energy and a number of other federal agencies. He was responsible for the development of government programs in safety and security as well as leading the organization responsible for large scale thermal testing, including the design and construction oversight of a new Thermal Test Complex. He also was member of Sandia’s Advanced Concepts Group think tank.

In 2006, Gritzo relocated to Massachusetts to join FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers. He is currently vice president and manager of research for FM Global, overseeing a division of scientists, engineers, and technicians who assess property risk and identify solutions to prevent loss at commercial and industrial facilities for clients including one-third of the Fortune 1000. He leads staff with computational and experimental expertise in fire, explosions, natural hazards – including windstorms, flood, and earthquakes – and risk and reliability analysis. Gritzo also oversees activities at FM Global’s $125-million, 1,600 acre, Research Campus in West Glocester, Rhode Island, the world’s largest center for property loss prevention research.

He serves on the governing board of the Global Earthquake Model, as the chair of the research leadership team of the Industrial Research Institute, and on advisory committees for several universities. He has served as chair of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Heat Transfer Division Executive Committee and on the Research Advisory Committee for the National Fire Protection Association. In 2013, he received the 75th Anniversary medal from the ASME Heat Transfer Division. He is also a member of the Texas Tech University Department of Mechanical Engineering Academy.

A frequent speaker, writer and thought leader, Gritzo has been interviewed by national and trade media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, The Discovery Channel, Reuters, Bloomberg, Fast Company and Business Insurance.

Gritzo and his wife Ginger live in Wrentham, Massachusetts, and have three daughters, Leah, Kendra and Jessica. They are members of the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Massachusetts Beach Buggy Association, devoting volunteer time to ensure conservation, access, and stewardship of public lands. His hobbies include motorcycling, snowboarding, snowshoeing, hiking, fishing, and off-road driving.

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