Victoria Rockwell Becomes The 130th President Of ASME

Nine New Officers Begin Terms 

NEW YORK, June 16, 2011 – Victoria A. Rockwell of Houston-based Air Liquide USA, LLC, has commenced a one-year term as the 130th president of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).

Rockwell took office on June 14, during proceedings at the Society’s 2011 Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas, when three new members of the ASME Board of Governors and six new vice presidents also began their terms of leadership in the worldwide engineering organization.

Rockwell currently serves as director of Investment Development at Air Liquide, a leading developer of gases for the industrial, health and environmental sectors. An active member of ASME for 31 years, she is a strong advocate of engineering education and has helped to leverage the Society’s impact and influence in the engineering marketplace.

Rockwell, an ASME Fellow, holds degrees in mechanical engineering and in applied science and mathematics.   

The three new members of the ASME Board of Governors, who have begun three-year terms, are:

Betty L. Bowersox, an ASME Fellow, is manager of Process Improvement at Nooter/Eriksen (Fenton, Mo.), the world's leading independent supplier of natural circulation heat recovery steam generators.  

Julio Guerrero, Ph.D., principle research scientist at Schlumberger Research, Cambridge, Mass., with research collaborations in robotics for subsea and land oil operations. 

Charla K. Wise, of Wise Consulting, has served as a Lockheed Martin vice president of Engineering as well as VP/ program director of F-22, and is immediate past chair of the ASME Industry Advisory Board.  She is an adjunct professor for the University of Michigan College of Engineering. Also beginning a three-year term is Kenneth R. Balkey, P.E., senior vice president of ASME Standards and Certification.  In this leadership role Balkey will work with the ASME Board of Governors in establishing and overseeing the strategic direction of the sector, while serving to promote ASME codes, standards and certification programs. Balkey, an ASME Fellow, is a consulting engineer at the Westinghouse Electric Company, Pittsburgh. Pa.

The five vice presidents commencing three-year terms are:          

Richard H. Bunce, P.E., an engineer at Siemens Energy’s Gas Turbine Instrumentation Development Group, is serving as ASME vice president, Global Communities.

Guido G. Karcher, P.E., ASME Fellow and a consulting engineer with over 50 years of experience in pressure equipment and safety practices, is the ASME vice president, Pressure Technology Codes and Standards.

Richard W. Swayne of Reedy Engineering, a metallurgist, welding engineer and a consultant with years of experience in the design, fabrication and operation of nuclear power plant equipment, is serving as ASME vice president, Nuclear Codes and Standards.

Andrew C. Taylor, P.E., has served in commanding officer and leadership instructor roles for the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve since 1981 and in a number of assignments with Entergy Nuclear since 1986. He is the ASME vice president, Leadership and Diversity.

Richard B. Williamson, ASME Fellow and executive chairman of TD Williamson, Inc., a privately owned business proving global pipeline integrity maintenance products. He is the new vice president of the Houston-based ASME International Petroleum Technology Institute.

About ASME

ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.