AUSTIN, Texas — Two faculty members and three alumni from the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest honors in the engineering field. Their recognized contributions have had significant impact on nuclear power plants, landslide forecasting, LED lighting, integrated circuit processors and crane safety. In total, 23 Cockrell faculty members are active NAE members.
Election to the academy is among the highest professional distinctions bestowed upon an engineer. Membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research and practice, including pioneering new and developing fields of technology and making significant advancements in the engineering field and profession.
“Congratulations to the courageous engineers chosen for membership in the National Academy of Engineering,” said Roger Bonnecaze, dean of the Cockrell School. “Their innovations have impacted our daily lives in many ways, including faster and more efficient technology, safer and more reliable energy, protection from natural hazards, and more.”
About the New NAE Members
Dale E. Klein, a professor in the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, was chosen “for leadership in the development of programs that enhance the safety of nuclear power plants worldwide.” Klein served as chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission by presidential appointment and as assistant to the secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs. His work in safety and regulation led him to help establish the Nuclear Safety Review Board for the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and the Nuclear Reform Monitoring Committee for Tokyo Electric Power Co. after the Fukushima accident, ensuring improved nuclear safety worldwide.
Ellen Rathje is a professor in the Fariborz Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering. She is being honored “for contributions to seismic slope assessment and site response analysis and the development of cyberinfrastructure for natural hazards engineering.” Seismic slope assessment involves examining slopes that could deform due to earthquakes, potentially causing landslides. In addition to her seismic slope work, Rathje established DesignSafe, a cyberinfrastructure program that uses data to improve resiliency from natural disasters.
Michael Krames (B.S. electrical and computer engineering) is being honored “for contributions to high-brightness, visible-spectrum light-emitting diodes” (LEDs). A member of the Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni, Krames launched innovations in LEDs that show up everywhere in our day-to-day lives, including the first LED automotive headlights.
Mark Papermaster (B.S. electrical and computer engineering) is chief technology officer and executive vice president of Technology and Engineering at AMD. NAE recognized him “for leadership in the design and production of complex integrated circuit processors.” Papermaster, a Distinguished Engineering Graduate of the Cockrell School, played a key role in AMD’s transformation into a world leader in semiconductors, re-engineering many of the company’s processes that led to the creation of new architecture systems and advancements in CPUs and GPUs.
Jimmy Don Wiethorn (B.S., M.S., Ph.D. civil, environmental and architectural engineering) is one of the world’s top crane engineering experts. He is being recognized “for research on and analysis of crane accidents, saving lives through improved technology and training.” Throughout his career, Wiethorn has investigated more than 1,280 crane accidents worldwide, and his research has led to improved tracking of crane accidents and increased safety measures.
