Stan Settles, IBM Engineering Management Professor and Director of Systems Architecting and Engineering at the Viterbi School of Engineering, has received the Institute of Industrial Engineers' highest honor.
Settles: "his affect on the Epstein ISE department, indeed, on the entire Viterbi School is pervasive and perceptible."
The Frank and Lillian Gilbreth Industrial Engineering Award "recognizes those who have distinguished themselves through contributions to the welfare of mankind in the field of industrial engineering. The contributions are of the highest caliber and nationally or internationally recognized."
Settles is the 36th recipient of the award. In addition to significant engineering achievement demonstrated by papers and patents or similar achievements,, candidates must also have represented industrial engineering to the public and the profession in three of the following five areas: publications, public relations interdisciplinary activity, humanitarian service, and service to IIE.
"Frank and Lillian Gilbreth and Frederick Taylor were the founders of the industrial engineering field," said James E. Moore, chair of the Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineeing. "The Gilbreth award is a highly coveted special recognition by our field's lead professional society. There is no more appropriate, deserving recipient than Stan Settles."
Moore said the impact of Settles on USC had been remarkable: "Stan arrived in 1994 at a critical point in the life of the Epstein ISE Department and served two terms as department chair, preceding Randolph Hall. He took the helm of the Systems Architecting and Engineering program in 2004, succeeding Elliot Axelband, and turned the Viterbi School's modest program into the national leader.
"His time at USC has been characterized by a marked, purposeful selflessness focused almost exclusively on the ascent of the institution and the welfare of our students. With 30 years of industry experience and membership in the National Academy of Engineering, he is like a drop of ink in a glass of water: His effect on the Epstein ISE Department, indeed on the entire Viterbi School, is pervasive and perceptible."
Settles is the second Viterbi School Gilbreth Award winner — in 1992, Gerald Nadler won the honor. He will receive his award at the IIE Annual Conference and Exposition Honors and Awards Banquet, May 31, in Miami.
