Continuing a time-honored tradition, the New Mexico State University Alumni Association has selected recipients for the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Awards, the James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service and the Young Alumni Service Award.

The Alumni Association has presented these prestigious awards since 1956, adding the James F. Cole Memorial Award in 1966 and the Young Alumni Service Award in 2019. Honorees are selected based on personal accomplishment, professional achievement and charitable service.

Honorees from each academic college are selected to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, demonstrating the strength and service from graduates across the university.

From the College of Engineering, the Distinguished Alumni awardee is James C. Owen, ’95. Owen is the associate laboratory director for weapons engineering and the chief engineer for weapons at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). His vast interface responsibilities include the National Nuclear Security Administration Nuclear Weapons Enterprise, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. Owen is also the recipient of numerous DOE weapons performance awards. Owen’s biography can be found at https://www.nmsualumni.org/pdf/NMSU-DA-ENG-JamesOwen.jpg

The James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service is presented to NMSU alumni who have demonstrated outstanding university involvement and civic, humanitarian and professional service.

The 2021 James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service recipient is Richard Leza, ’73. Leza is the founder of AI Research Corporation and served as its chairman and chief executive officer. Leza became a director of Exar, an American semiconductor manufacturer, in 2005 and was elected chairman of the board in 2006. After 10 years as chairman, he retired in June 2016 and was appointed interim chief executive officer and president of the company three times during his service. Now retired, Leza spent more than 40 years in public, private and nonprofit organizations as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Leza’s biography can be found at https://www.nmsualumni.org/pdf/NMSU-JFC-RichardLeza.jpg

They were recognized during the NMSU Homecoming Week at the Distinguished Alumni Dinner, Friday, Sept. 24.