August 3, 2007 — Two Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) engineers have received SAE International's Lloyd L. Withrow Distinguished Speaker Award. Dr. Thomas W. Ryan III, an Institute engineer, and Dr. Terrence Alger, a principal engineer, both in SwRI's Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division, were presented the award during the SAE 2007 World Congress in Detroit.
Established in 1984, the award, named in honor of the late Lloyd L. Withrow, former head of General Motors Research Laboratories Fuels and Lubricants and a noted speaker at many SAE meetings, recognizes individuals who are three-time or more recipients of the SAE Oral Presentation Award.
Ryan, employed at SwRI since 1979, also was nominated as the 2008 president of SAE International, the world's leading standards research and development organization for mobility engineering. During his career, he has specialized in engines, fuels and combustion technology. He has performed basic and applied combustion research, working with experimental combustion processes and applying sophisticated diagnostics to internal combustion engine systems. Much of his work has involved diagnostic techniques for real and simulated combustion environments.
Ryan earned his bachelor's degree in marine engineering from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and his master's and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University.
Alger joined SwRI in 2003. Previously, he worked on gasoline direct injection engine development in the powertrain research group at Ford Motor Co. Before starting his career in the automotive industry, Alger served as an officer for five years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Alger earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Military Academy, and his master's and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.
For more information, visit Powertrain Engineering or contact Deb Schmid, +1 210 522 2254, Communications Department, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238-5166.