Join us Wednesday, May 26, 202 Virtually for the Award Presentation at the RES Annual Meeting. Come congratulate the 2020 Engineer of the Year
2020 Engineer of the Year: Richard J. Buckley
Senior Fellow L3Harris Technologies
Education: Worcester Polytechnic Institute BSEE with Distinction (1981) Rochester Institute of Technology MSEE (1993)
How have you used your engineering skills for community and professional leadership?
I was fortunate to have excellent mentors early in my career; I have tried to ‘pay it forward’ by mentoring engineers in early stages of their career, in terms of both technical and career aspirations.
What do you consider your greatest engineering achievement?
The AN/PRC-117G was truly a ‘cradle-to-grave’ product development; L3Harris enabled me to champion the original concept and allowed me to follow the product through to high volume production and field use by satisfied customers.
Describe a key event or individual that had a profound effect on your career.
Floyd Koontz was an excellent mentor early in my career; he was entirely unafraid of any technical challenge, willing to explore a wide landscape of possible solutions. He also taught me to embrace ideas from multiple diverse sources.
What advice would you give to our scholarship recipients?
Be yourself and find your personal areas of passion; energy and positive attitude can overcome most obstacles; teamwork is more important than ever; try to have fun, it’s a long career for most of us.
Articulate your vision for engineering in Rochester.
Rochester is blessed with a long engineering legacy, excellent universities and a strong engineering talent pool. My vision is to work collaboratively across all of those resources to collectively solve emerging challenges that likely face society in the next generation.
Daniel J. Rusnack, PE
2020 Kate Gleason Young Engineer of the Year Daniel J. Rusnack, PE
Senior Project Engineer – Electrical - Science, Technology, and Industry Bergmann – Architect, Engineers and Planners
Education:
Pennysylvania State Univeristy, BS Architectural Engineering (2004)
How have you used your engineering skills for community and professional leadership?
I actively contribute to the Rochester Illuminating Engineering Society by helping to run the local organization by utilizing my organizational, planning skills and illumination engineering knowledge. Engineering skills encompass many things but everyday things such as helping others, and organizational skills are life skills that benefit all.
What do you consider your greatest engineering achievement?
My greatest engineering achievement to date was working as a Civilian Engineer in the early stages of my career designing buildings electrical systems for the United States Military. It was very inspirational knowing the buildings I helped design were being used to help the activities of the United States Military and Department of Defense.
Describe a key event or individual that had a profound effect on your career.
First and foremost, my parents who were always there for me. I can’t thank them enough for all their love and support. My wife Kristen and I have each others back and take on the world every day while raising two great children. Also, my first engineering job out of college was in Norfolk, Virginia where I learned many electrical engineering design skills, where I ultimately spent the first +8 years of my career. The engineering mentors that I met and guided me during this time had a profound effect on me and helped shape me into the engineer I am today.
What advice would you give to our scholarship recipients?
Take every opportunity you can to learn from your elders and Professors as you get ready to start your working career. At the same time, enjoy every moment you can with your friends and family as you get ready to start the rest of your life. If 2020 has taught us anything it is to cherish the time we have with family and friends.
Articulate your vision for engineering in Rochester.
Rochester has a long history of talented engineers, entrepreneurial spirit and extensive infrastructure to support the engineering industry. I foresee this having a resurgence with the use of new technologies and the next generation entering the working field.
