BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
gels which led to the development of the precision-shaped grain (PSG) mineral. Adefris’ contributions have led to the advance- ment of three-dimensional abrasives technology and a high-per- formance bonded wheel for 300mm silicon finishing. A past president of 3M Language Society, Dr. Adefris serves as a campus recruiter for 3M Georgia Tech University Relations and a mentor to new employees. In 1981, he graduated from Addis Ababa University with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. After leaving Ethiopia, he earned a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nairobi in 1987 and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1993. He is a member of the Materials Information Society, the Mineral Metals and Materials Society, an associate member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and a member of the Minnesota Ethiopian Professional Network.
Outstanding Technical Contribution — Industry
Melvin Greer Senior Fellow/Chief Strategist Cloud Computing Information Systems and Global Solutions
Lockheed Martin Corporation
fields of computer science: cloud computing. He is the inventor of the trademarked and patented Thundercloud, which promises Lockheed Martin customers a faster route to cloud computing. Open911, an open- source information system for first responders, leverages on Greer’s Thundercloud design pattern, using it as the cornerstone to build a cloud-based solution that delivers incident reports to first responders. In turn, first responders use iPads and iPhones to communicate in real time with Open911 cloud services. Greer’s research in agile software development, cloud computing, and business analytic have resulted in new global standards, and tech- nical methods and tools.
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Greer has published more than 100 articles and 50 papers, and led at least 20 webcasts. But perhaps his most lasting legacy is support for workforce development. He holds several univer- sity-level faculty, board and lecturer posts, and mentors students from high school through graduate school. In his commitment to STEM education Greer is carrying on the legacy of his parents, who raised four children to be successful engineers. Education is truly his passion. He is a fellow and professor at the Federated Enterprise Architecture Certification Institute, where he teaches government and industry professionals; a lecturer at the George Mason University International Cyber Center, and an adjunct faculty professor at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez College of Engineering, the largest provider of Hispanic engi-
www.blackengineer.com
elvin Greer is in one of the hottest
neers in the nation.
Greer speaks French, Italian and Portuguese. He says that he took his first overseas assignment because he was interested in how different cultures approached the engineering and problem- solving process. At home, he is a popular lecturer and board member at the Alabama State University College of Engineering, and at Bowie State University. He mentors students at T.C. Wil- liams High School, the Loudoun Academy of Science, Princeton University graduate school students, and a disabled teenager who is using research data from NASA’s Mars Exploration Mission to improve volcanic predication on Earth. Greer is the first African American to be named Senior Fellow at Lockheed Martin. The corporation’s senior fellows, who make up about a tenth of a percent of 70,000 engineers, scientists and technicians, provide technical leadership for the entire company. Greer stands out as a contributor, enhancing professional expertise of employees through education, mentoring and coaching. He works tirelessly to help foster next generation engineers and scientists. Greer earned both his bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and master’s in Information Systems at American University in Washington, D.C.
Pioneer Award
James A. Bell Executive Vice President, Corporate President and Chief Financial Officer The Boeing Company
April 1, 2012, he’ll leave a legacy of leadership at one of the largest aerospace
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and defense companies in the world. Born in Los Angeles’ South Central neighborhood, he landed his first job in 1972 during his senior year at California State University in Los Angeles. However, transition from the life of a student to staff accountant was difficult. But with support of more experienced supervisors and co-workers, Bell made a change. Rather than merely going to work each day, he began to pursue a career. He worked at Rockwell for 24 years, performing various functions in corpo- rate audits and cost estimating. By 1984, he was supervising the team responsible for the financial activities of Rockwell’s Atomic and Rocket dyne divisions. In 1996, Boeing bought Rockwell’s aerospace and defense unit and Bell moved smoothly into the new company, becoming Vice President of contracts for Boe- ing’s defense and space businesses. He also served in business management roles for the International Space Station. In 2000, he was promoted to Corporate Controller and in 2003, was ap- pointed acting chief financial officer, seeing the company through some challenging periods. He earned corporate trust as he led the
USBE&IT I WINTER 2012 31
hen James A. Bell retires on
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