FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 02/19/97
CONTACT: Laura Carlson-Weiner,
School of Engineering and Technology
(323) 343-4494 or (323) 343-4500
Cal State L.A. Announces Establishment of the Northrop Grumman Engineering Endowed Chair in Design and Manufacturing
Los Angeles, California -- February 19, 1997 -- The School of Engineering and Technology at California State University, Los Angeles has announced the establishment of the Northrop Grumman Engineering Endowed Chair in Design and Manufacturing. At a recent reception, Michael J. Kelly-the first appointed endowed chair-was introduced. Kelly helped unveil a Donor Wall of Honor in Cal State L.A.'s Engineering and Technology Building that pays tribute to the Northrop Grumman Corporation and the 20 other manufacturing companies and organizations that provided financial support to this project.
Attending the reception were high level executives from Northrop Grumman Corporation such as Corporate Vice Presidents Marvin Elkin, Brian Boyer, Mac McHugh and Dennis Rice, and former Vice-Chairman, President and C.O.O. Frank Lynch. In addition, high level executives from The MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation, ARCO Foundation, Hughes Aircraft, Earle M. Jorgensen Company and Aerospace Aluminum Heat Treating were present.
The Endowed Chair was established to attract distinguished engineers and engineering educators in the field of design and manufacturing to the School of Engineering and Technology for one or two year periods. Kelly began his one year appointment on September 1, 1996 and will spend the next year working with the School of Engineering and Technology faculty and administration to enhance the School's manufacturing curriculum and to assist the School in making key contacts in industry and government.
Before coming to Cal State L.A., Kelly held teaching and administrative positions at several universities, worked at IBM for 17 years in a variety of management positions, and served as director of the Defense Manufacturing Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for three years. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Education Foundation. His recent activities include government-sponsored studies on Electronics Manufacturing in Asia and on related policy implications. Kelly is an electrical engineer with degrees from Marist College, Catholic University of America and the University of Detroit.
"Northrop Grumman is proud of its long relationship with Cal State L.A., a relationship that has been mutually beneficial," said Marvin Elkin, Northrop Grumman vice president and Chief Human Resources, Communications and Administrative Officer. "For America to compete in the global marketplace, we must nurture the development of first-rate engineering talent."
Since the original endowment campaign began, increases in faculty salaries and interest rates make it necessary to raise the endowment level to $500,000. The School of Engineering and Technology plans to raise an additional $150,000 over the next three to five years to increase the current Northrop Grumman Engineering endowment to ensure a more stable and optimistic future for engineering and technology education at Cal State L.A.
History of the Project:
More than ten years ago, the School of Engineering and Technology's Industry Advisory Board decided to raise $350,000 to establish an Engineering Endowed Chair. Their initial fund raising efforts generated a little over $80,000 from local companies. In 1989, the Northrop Corporation came forth with a $200,000 challenge grant pledge. For every dollar that the School raised for the Endowed Chair, Northrop would match it with a $2 donation. More than twenty vendors generously pledged their support of this Endowed Chair project and finally, in 1995, the necessary $350,000 endowment level was met.
At the onset of the project, four original companies donated the first $80,000 to fund the Engineering Endowed Chair. The donors include ARCO Foundation, Hughes Aircraft, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and Western Gear Company.
The 14 companies that agreed to pledge their support after Northrop Grumman presented their $200,000 challenge grant to Cal State L.A. in 1989 were Aerospace Aluminum Heat Treating, Westminster, CA; Alson Industries, Compton, CA; ASTECH/MCI Manufacturing Inc., Laguna Hills, CA; Borbon, Inc., Buena Park, CA; Deft, Inc., Irvine, CA; Continental Forge Company, Compton, CA; Deutsch Metal Components, Santa Monica, CA; Earle M. Jorgensen Company, Brea, CA; Kirkwood Dynalectric Company, Los Alamitos, CA; Optical Components, Inc., Covina, CA; Rozendal Associates, El Cajon, CA; The MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation, Los Angeles, CA; Tiernay Metals, Redondo Beach, CA; and Vandaire Company, Compton, CA.