Class Notes

Alumna Rises in FAA

Lirio Liu ('91 B.S., Aerospace Engineering) became executive director of the Federal Aviation Administration's Aircraft Certification Service in May 2022. Liu, who has worked for the FAA since 1991, is responsible for type certification, production approval, airworthiness certification, and continued airworthiness of the U.S. civil aircraft fleet, including commercial and general aviation activities. She oversees more than 1,400 employees working in FAA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.; 35 field offices across the U.S.; and international offices in Belgium and Singapore. She led the agency's international affairs office prior to her current position and has served in several other leadership roles in her career.

1971

Laxmi Mrig (M.S., Electrical Engineering) and his wife, Raj, endowed a $100,000 graduate fellowship for electrical engineering students.

1986

Ken Cummins Hall (B.S., Civil Engineering) is as vice president and southwest regional manager at Hazen and Sawyer, an environmental engineering firm in Fort Worth. Hall's 35-year career includes multiple global and regional management and technology roles. He serves on the advisory board of the College of Engineering.

2005

Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi (M.S., Electrical Engineering) has been appointed as the director-general of the United Arab Emirates Space Agency. He will lead efforts to develop space sciences and associated advanced technologies, establish related regulations and policies, and promote the nation's capabilities.