80

Michael Deitchman, (MSSM ’80 ) has been inducted into the University of Maryland Department of Aerospace Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni and has been awarded the prestigious Glenn L. Martin Medal for outstanding achievement in aerospace engineering. Deitchman was appointed to the Senior Executive Service on Sept. 9, 2001, and is currently the deputy chief of Naval Research, Naval Air Warfare and Weapons Science and Technology Department at the Office of Naval Research, responsible for the Navy’s aircraft, air and surface weapons technology programs. His naval career spans more than 36 years, starting as an engineering student trainee from the University of Maryland Co-operative Education program in Feb. 1971. After graduating in 1973 with a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering, Deitchman returned to the Naval Air Test Center as a senior flight-test engineer for the Marine Corps AV-8 aircraft. His career has included positions of chief engineer for the Navy’s E-2C aircraft, F/A-18 deputy program manager, head of the Naval Air Systems Command Shipboard Suitability Test and Evaluation Division and Office of Naval Research Strike Technology division head. Deitchman has a master of science degree in Systems Management of RDT&E from USC, completed graduate study in aerospace engineering at Pennsylvania State University and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School test project engineering curriculum. He is the recipient of the Department of the Navy’s Meritorious and Superior Civilian Service Awards.

83

Capt.Stephen Beckvonpeccoz (BSISE ’83) is a naval aviator and graduate of NROTC USC and has been undergoing attaché training in the Washington, D.C., area. He and his family will report this summer to the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, where he will serve as naval attaché to Germany.

85

Charles Belk (BSEE ’85) recently launched Charles Belk Management (www.charlesbelk.com, www.myspace.com/charlesbelk), a Los Angeles-based artist brand-awareness and management agency. He previously served as VP, User Marketing for JuiceCaster, a New York/Los Angeles-based unified Web and mobile social networking application company, and as VP, Interactive Promotions for Hothouse Inc, an Atlanta-based promotional marketing agency. Charles was also recently elected to the Board of Directors of the USC Black Alumni Association and delivered the keynote address for the Viterbi School of Engineering Center for Engineering Diversity’s 2007 Awards Banquet.

86

Steve Palar (BSPTE ’86) is working for Chevron Thailand as a petroleum engineer and has been living in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2004. He is married to Hsiang Lun Tai (BSCE ’87) and has two children. His oldest child is an incoming USC freshman.

94

Thomas Murray Ferrier (MSSM ’94), son of the late Dr. Paul and Elizabeth Ferrier Jr. of La Cañada/ Flintridge, announced his marriage to Ann Felicia Rosen, daughter of Jack Rosen, Esq., of Highland Park, Ill., and Lova Andros of Glenview, Ill. The couple was married on January 13, 2007, at The San Diego Wild Animal Park. Ferrier, a Trojan and third-generation Californian, has strong family ties with USC: Dr. Paul A. Ferrier Sr., MD, started USC’s Urology Department; Dr. Paul A. Ferrier Jr., MD, a urologist who taught at USC; Dr. James A. Ferrier, MD, an orthopedic surgeon who did his internship in surgery at USC; and Dr. Genevieve E. Ferrier, MD, a pediatrician who completed her residency at Childrens Hospital, an affiliate of the Keck School of Medicine at USC. Ferrier received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Occidental College, a master’s degree in business administration from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a master of science degree in materials science from USC. He is director of marketing at James R. Hughes Insurance & Financial and is a competitive sailor in the Star Class. Ann Ferrier received a bachelor’s degree in geology and economics from the University of Colorado and a masters in business administration from Thunderbird School of Global Management. She is a business development executive at the Canadian Consulate General and is an active hunter/jumper equestrian. The couple honeymooned in Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, Mexico.

98

Armando Santana (BSCSCI ’98) has been working on creating magic for Walt Disney Imagineering’s Research & Development group, the R&D arm of the Walt Disney Company. He recently helped to launch a new business called Adventures by Disney, a guided vacation experience. He is currently responsible for mobile initiatives and other new media projects and was recently promoted to principal technical staff. He keeps busy with family life, his wife and two very active kids, ages 6 and 4.

00

Darren Shou (BSCSCI ’00) worked in management for Microsoft after graduation and is currently a senior manager at Symantec Research Labs in Santa Monica, Calif., while also serving on the boards of several organizations.