COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & SCIENCE

Hinckley, who received his bachelor’s degree in computer science, had a full career at Cleco, an energy services company based in central Louisiana. He started work in 1988 as a staff programmer and moved up to analyst, manager of business services, and, in 2000, was promoted to general manager of technology services, a position which he served until his retirement in 2008.
As general manager at Cleco, Hinckley directed activities involved with supplying services from four departments: applications, network, telecommunications and support services for all Cleco affiliates.
Prior to joining Cleco, he worked at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, Cities Services Co., United Technologies Research Center and Mobil Oil in capacities ranging from programmer/analyst to systems manager. Some of the responsibilities with these companies included selection and configuration of hardware/software, site preparation, data communication design and strategic planning.

Other Distinguished Alumni:

• Tom Wendell, 1987, Biomedical Engineering – Field Clinical Engineer for Medtronic, Inc., Blythewood, SC
• Bill Wayne Ponder, 1956, Chemistry – Director of Chemistry at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
• Michael Joe Kern, 1971, Chemical Engineering – Vice-President of the Huntsman Corporation, The Woodlands, TX
• John Kelly, 1979, Civil Engineering (deceased) – District Administrator, District 5, Louisiana Department of Transportation
• Norman Percy Graham, Jr., 1985, Computer Science – Vice-President of Product Development at ArcMail Technology, Shreveport, LA
• Charles Gandy, 1955, Electrical Engineering – National Security Administration retired, Annapolis, MD
• Captain Brian Harrison, 1984, Electrical Engineering Technology – Commanding Officer, Naval Support Activity, New Orleans, LA
• James Pruett, 1968, Industrial Engineering – Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Academic, Faculty, & Student Affairs at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
• Ruth Ellen Hanna, 1966, Mathematics and Statistics – Professor Emeritus, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA
• Elton Calhoun, 1969, Mechanical Engineering – President, Regional Steel Products, Inc., Victoria, TX
• Henry Bert Crawley, 1962, Physics – Professor of Physics at Iowa State University, Ames, IA.

  The annual internal Engineering and Science Foundation Awards recognize faculty and staff who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment and service to the College.  This year Dr. Heath Tims, Dr. Michael Swanbom, and Dr. Kelly Crittenden will be recognized for their work with the students participating in the Shell Eco-marathon Americas event.

  The external awards are given to friends or alumni of the College who have given extraordinary levels of service to the College and its students. This year’s honorees include:

  • Tim Petrus, 1976, Senior Vice-President, XTO Energy (Exxon), Ft. Worth, TX
  • Harold Thomas, 1971, Entergy Corporation, Bastrop, LA
  • Larry Rewerts, HR Manager, PPG Industries, Lake Charles, LA

  Don Stacy, who graduated from Tech in 1957, will also be recognized by the foundation. He is the former Chairman and President of Amoco Eurasia Petroleum Company in Houston, TX.