It gives me great pleasure to recognize the accomplishments of our outstanding alumni every year during Homecoming week. This year, Mr. James Owen is recognized as our outstanding alumnus. And Mr. Richard Leza is the recipient of James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service.

Mr. Owen is associate laboratory director for weapons engineering and the chief engineer for weapons at Los Alamos National Laboratory. You can read more about Mr. Owen at https://www.nmsualumni.org/pdf/NMSU-DA-ENG-JamesOwen.jpg

Mr. Leza, now retired, Leza is the founder of AI Research Corporation and served as its chairman and chief executive officer. You can read more information about Mr. Leza at https://www.nmsualumni.org/pdf/NMSU-JFC-RichardLeza.jpg

Please join me in congratulating Jessie and Richard. They are truly a source of inspiration for the rest of NMSU Engineering family.