Distinguished Engineering Alumnus
Award Recipient
Walter Tilford Smith — 1966
This distinguished engineering alumnus joined the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company following his graduation from N.C. State in 1929 with a Civil Engineering degree. He has since risen through various positions to become Executive Vice President and Director of the company.
He has been a leader for 37 years in the company that employs more than 20,000 people and does over 250 million dollars worth of business each year. The company has built some of the world's mightiest ships including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise and numerous nuclear-powered Polaris-armed submarines. He has attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the Harvard Advanced Management Program.
He has served his alma mater as a director of the Alumni Association and as President of the Tidewater Alumni Club. In his community, he has served in leadership roles in United Fund and Red Cross affairs, as well as in a number of civic and social clubs.
This outstanding engineer in every way has exemplified the best in engineering responsibility, using his many talents for the improvement of his country, his community and his university.
Walter Tilford Smith