Reginald I. Vachon

Summary

Reginald Irenee Vachon (January 29, 1937 – December 24, 2020)[1] was an American mechanical engineer, business executive, lawyer and inventor, known as former president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.[2][3]

Reginal I. Vachon
President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
In office
2003–2004
Personal details
Born
Reginald Irenee Vachon

(1937-01-29)January 29, 1937
Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
DiedDecember 24, 2020(2020-12-24) (aged 83)
Parent(s)Rene Albert Vachon
Regina (Galvin) Radcliffe Vachon
EducationUnited States Naval Academy
Auburn University (BSc, MSc)
Oklahoma State University (PhD)
Thomas Goode Jones School of Law (LLB)
ProfessionMechanical engineer, business executive, lawyer, inventor
AwardsASME Medal (2019)

Biography edit

Youth, education and early career edit

Vachon was born in Norfolk, Virginia, son of Rene Albert Vachon and Regina (Galvin) Radcliffe Vachon.[4][5] After his high school graduation in 1954, he attended the United States Naval Academy in 1954-55. He continued his studies at Auburn University, where he obtained his BSc in mechanical engineering in 1958, and his MSc in nuclear science in 1960.[6][7]

Vachon further continued his studies at Oklahoma State University, where he obtain his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in 1963. In 1969 he would also obtained his Bachelor of Laws at the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. In the meantime Vachon had started his academic career at Auburn University in 1958 as a research assistant, became a research associate in 1963, and was associate professor from 1963 to 1978.[7]

Further career edit

In 1977, Vachon founded Vachon Nix & Associates, where he is president ever since. From 1981 to 1990 he worked as chief operating officer at the Thacker Construction Company. In 1991-92 he was President and CEO of Compris Technology, Inc., and has served as an executive in some other companies ever since, including United Information Technologies, Inc. and Direct Measurements, Inc.[7]

Honours and awards edit

He was President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers International in 2003-2004.[7]

He was awarded the 2019 ASME Medal by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. [8]

Selected publications edit

Articles, a selection
  • Fong, J. T., Ranson, W. F., Vachon, R. I., & Marcal, P. V. (2008, January). Structural Aging Monitoring via Web-Based Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology. In ASME 2008 Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference (pp. 1565-1613). American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Patents, a selection
  • Vachon, Reginald I. "Apparatus and method for determining stress and strain in pipes, pressure vessels, structural members and other deformable bodies." U.S. Patent No. 4,591,996. 27 May 1986.
  • Vachon, Reginald I., and William F. Ranson. "Apparatus and method for determining the stress and strain in pipes, pressure vessels, structural members and other deformable bodies." U.S. Patent No. 5,065,331. 12 Nov. 1991.
  • Vachon, Reginald I. "Finite element analysis fatigue gage." U.S. Patent No. 6,874,370. 5 Apr. 2005.

References edit

  1. ^ Stephen Archie McLeod. The House of Cantelou & Co: the story of a Southern family : a genealogy. 1995. p. 80
  2. ^ SWE, Volume 51. 2005. p. 52
  3. ^ Journal of Fluids Engineering, Volume 126, Nr. 1-4. 2004.
  4. ^ American men & women of science: a biographical directory of today's leaders in physical, biological and related sciences. R.R. Bowker company, 1992. p. 278.
  5. ^ Who's who in Finance and Industry, 1999. p. 849
  6. ^ Auburn University. Graduate School, Abstracts of Theses and Titles of Dissertations, Volume 9. p. 146
  7. ^ a b c d "Reginald Irenee Vachon, Curriculum Vitae" at theshanafoundation.org, The Shana Foundation, 2008. Accessed 2017-09-22.
  8. ^ "ASME Medal". ASME. Retrieved 9 May 2020.

External links edit

  • Dr. Reginald Vachon at wfeo.org, 2008-17.