Seven alumni from the Cockrell School's Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, along with one faculty member, will be inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni Oct. 26. This year's honorees have accomplished a wide array of feats, from playing in two NFL Super Bowls to one successfully establishing their own construction company.
CAEE's Academy of Distinguished Alumni was established in 2003 to recognize the professional achievements and contributions of its graduates. Twenty-seven charter members were inducted into the academy in 2003, and 67 additional members have been selected since.
Raul E. Allegre
B.S. '84
President and shareholder, Allegre Sports/Enterprises
While earning his bachelor's in civil engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, Allegre excelled both in the classroom and as part of the Longhorn football team. After graduation, Allegre had a successful nine-year career in the National Football League (NFL) as a place kicker with the Baltimore and Indianapolis Colts, the New York Giants and the New York Jets. He practiced civil engineering in the off seasons, working for consulting firms in Baltimore and Indianapolis. Two Super Bowls later, his active player days ended in 1992 due to injury. Allegre then developed a successful Spanish-language show for NFL films, completed a MBA from UT Austin, and launched a marketing and sports promotion firm. He also is a contributor to ESPN programs and dedicates much time to civic activities and charities.
Dan A. Brown
Ph.D. '85
President and principal, Dan Brown and Associates PLLC
Dr. Brown is regarded as one of America's leading authorities on the construction and design of deep foundations for transportation structures. After 22 years on the faculty at Auburn University, he remains active in deep foundation practice through his consulting firm, Dan Brown and Associates. His work has been recognized with the Distinguished Service Award of the Deep Foundations Institute, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Martin Kapp Foundation Engineering Award, the Walter L. Huber Research Prize, and the Outstanding Service Award of ADSC, the International Association of Foundation Drilling. Following in the footsteps of his UT graduate adviser Lymon Reese, and his colleague Mike O'Neill, Brown recently co-authored the Federal Highway Administration manual titled "Drilled Shafts: Construction Procedures and LRFD Design Methods."
Elia King de Jordan
B.S. '70, M.S. '74
Executive director, RAIS VIDA
King de Jordan is recognized for her creative, innovative and transformative leadership in multinational, high-performance organizations. She began her professional career in transportation engineering with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in Lima, Peru. After earning her MBA, King de Jordan began a new phase of professional development in organizational management. During her 24-year career with pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly and Co., she became the corporation's first female general manager in its 118-year history. King de Jordan later advanced to director and general manager, and supervised the regional organization for 11 countries in the Andean and Central American region. Now as an entrepreneur, she is serving as executive director of Rais Vida, and expanding the Peruvian company's natural beauty and wellness products market internationally.
Elie H. Homsi
M.S. '86
Senior vice president of Engineering Services, Flatiron Construction
As senior vice president of Engineering Services for Flatiron, Homsi oversees the engineering activities of the entire organization for design-build, public-private partnership and high tech projects. He is known as one of North America's outstanding bridge constructors, and has made exceptional contributions to the development of construction technologies for major bridge projects. He has been a key contributor to the success of Flatiron by helping grow the company's annual revenues from $200 million to $1,300 million. Homsi has developed new and innovative construction engineering solutions that have garnered numerous awards including, ENR Top 25 Newsmaker, Nova Award for Innovation, ASBI Award of Excellence in Leadership, and FHWA Environmental Excellence Award. His services are now in demand in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, where he is expanding Flatiron operations.
James H. Metzger
B.S. '62
President and CEO, Metzger Construction Co.
Metzger has worked in commercial construction for more than 45 years. After earning his bachelor's in civil engineering from UT Austin, he worked as a surveyor, field engineer and project engineer as well as a project manager on railroad and building construction, chemical plant expansion, a lock and dam on the Arkansas River and a nuclear power plant in California. From 1963-78, Metzger worked for C.H. Leveall & Co. where he achieved the position of senior vice president and COO. In 1978, he was named president of IBS Contractors in Houston, specializing in medium-rise office buildings, retail, warehouses and industrial facilities. He then established Metzger Construction in 1986 and eventually expanded to 10 other states. Metzger is a member of the Littlefield Society, Chancellor's Council and President's Associates.
G. Charles Naeve
B.S. '74
Founding principal, Architectural Engineers Collaborative
Naeve is a founding member and managing principal of Architectural Engineers Collaborative, a structural engineering firm with a long history of award-winning projects. His expertise lies in integrated building behavior and he is known for composing structures that support architectural aesthetic and sustainable building. Naeve was an early advocate for sustainable design in Texas, serving as the engineer on model green buildings for the City of Austin and the State of Texas. In 2001, he was selected as an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects for his significant contributions to the built environment. He regularly participates in juries and professional panels for the department's architectural engineering design/capstone courses and was a member of the CAEE External Advisory Committee.
Kelley S. Neumann
B.S. '81
Senior vice president, San Antonio Water System
Neumann manages the planning, design and construction of the San Antonio Water System's (SAWS) large capital programs. She also has been involved with the development of the city's long-range water management plans and oversees the SAWS mentorship program. Neumann began her professional career as an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers and served in the Reserves for more than 20 years. She later worked as the airport engineer at the San Antonio Airport and was involved in the reconstruction of a primary runway. In 1992, Neumann joined SAWS and held many different assignments to improve the efficiency and operations of water/wastewater service for the utility. By gubernatorial appointment, she served on the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying for nine years.
Roy E. Olson
Honorary Member
Professor Emeritus, Geotechnical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
Olson joined the faculty in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering in 1970, bringing with him an international reputation for expertise on soil behavior. He is considered by many to be the catalyst of the department's geotechnical program success. Throughout his career, Olson assumed high-level leadership roles in professional societies while actively teaching and mentoring students. He has also been widely recognized for his professional accomplishments, including: Huber Research Prize; Croes Medal; Norman Medal; Terzaghi Lecture; and ASTM Hogentogler Award. Olson was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2003, however, his greatest pride is in the accomplishments of his former students; many who have become influential leaders in geotechnical engineering.
