PDES, Inc. Selects 2007 Winner of Brad Rigdon Technical Management Award – Jim Lorenz, Rockwell Collins

Left to right: Howard Mason, BAE Systems; Jim Lorenz, Rockwell Collins, Brad Rigdon Technical Management Award winner; Jack Harris, Rockwell Collins, PDES, Inc. General Manager

September 2007

Jim Lorenz of Rockwell Collins is the recipient of the 2007 Brad Rigdon Technical Management Award.  Jim consistently demonstrated the excellent technical management skills to support this nomination as he worked within Rockwell Collins and through the PDES, Inc. technical teams to promote the activities and strategic direction of PDES, Inc. to advance development of ISO 10303 (STEP) standards.    

Jim has served as an industry team leader in support of the PDES, Inc. initiative in Model Based Manufacturing, and he has championed its success at every opportunity.  His vision for applying Modeling and Simulation to the manufacturing environment has contributed to the success in defining a strategy for incorporating STEP to support Model Based Manufacturing.  Jim has long supported the development and use of critical STEP Application Protocols (AP203: Configuration-controlled design; and AP210: Electronic assembly, interconnection, and packaging design), establishing a strategy within his company to leverage the standards in support of his business' needs.  His strength in leading collaborative development has been critical in moving this multiple member project forward.  While briefing Model Based Manufacturing at several industry venues, Jim has taken the opportunity to communicate the important foundation that has been developed as part of the PDES, Inc. work.  His enthusiasm, motivation, and positive attitude have set an example for the entire PDES, Inc. team.

The PDES, Inc. Executive Board established the Brad Rigdon Technical Management Award in June 1996 in honor of Brad Rigdon, who was President and Chairman of the PDES, Inc. Executive Board for eight years. Mr. Rigdon, who retired from GM/EDS, brought outstanding leadership to the PDES, Inc. consortium and was instrumental in advancing STEP from its early development phase to its emergence into production operations. Established to recognize those individuals who stand out above the rest, this award is presented once a year to PDES, Inc. personnel who demonstrate excellent technical management skills within the PDES, Inc. Program.