Charles L. Harris (IE 1981), Robert D. Martin (IE 1969), Stephen M. Mitchell (IE 1965, MS IE 1967), and Thomas J. O’Brien (IE 1981) were inducted into the College of Engineering Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni.  This award recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to the profession, field, Institute, or society at-large. Candidates are highly placed executives and are actively involved in engineering or management, industry, academia or government.

 The annual Alumni Awards Induction Ceremony was held on March 19, 2010,  at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center.   The Awards Ceremony was created in 1994 under the leadership of then Dean Dr. John A. White. It was done in order to highlight the accomplishments of engineering students and emphasize the reputation of the COE. White passed the torch on to Dean Jean-Lou Chameau and today, Dean Don Giddens continues the tradition. Each year, the COE recognizes select alumni who have contributed to the profession, advanced their careers and enhanced the lives of others personally and professionally.

 More about ISyE’s award recipients:

 Charles L. Harris, IE 1981 – Partner, Accenture

Harris was born and raised in Atlanta. Upon graduating Georgia Tech, he worked for Arthur Anderson, now Accenture. After returning from an assignment in Paris, Harris was assigned to NASA in Huntsville, AL, designing and implementing a single platform accounting and financial management system for NASA operations nationwide.

 Robert D. Martin, IE 1969 – CFO Consultant, Interlochen Group

Martin has over 30 years of financial, general management and consulting experience both nationally and internationally. He is currently a partner with Interlochen Group, a boutique financial advisory firm, but his career includes working for Russell Athletic Corp., Sumbeam Corp., and Sara Lee Corp. Martin earned a BS in industrial engineering (IE) from Tech and an MBA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He was lieutenant in the US Army Chemical Corps.

 Stephen M. Mitchell, IE 1965, MS IE 1967 – CEO and President, Sertec Corporation

Mitchell has led Sertec for 15 years as CEO, taking it from an idea to being the leader in incident data intake and management. Mitchell has not only built Sertec into a successful, debt-free company, he has also led three others, and won the WalMart “Vendor of the Year” Award with Norcom, Inc. Mitchell has a BS and MS in IE from Tech, where he served as a trustee and is a registered Professional Engineer.

 Thomas J. O’Brien, IE 1981 – President and CEO, Axion Biosystems

O’Brien is the CEO of Axion Biosystems, an early stage start-up company based on proprietary electronics and unique micro-fabrication technology invented in the neuroengineering laboratory in biomedical engineering and licensed from Tech. O’Brian has successfully led a private placement raising $1 million in capital and managed the effort to secure $1.3 million in state and federal funds. He has held a number of senior executive positions in public and private companies in the US and overseas. After graduating with highest honors at Tech, O’Brien received an MBA from the University of Chicago. He is a donor to Georgia Tech and a member of the Wallace H. Coulter Department Biomedical Engineering Advisory Board.