About the College - Dean's Executive Council
Advisory Board

The University of South Florida College of Engineering Advisory Board is an organization that has been establish for the following purposes:

  • Provide an independent review of the USF College of Engineering with special emphases on effectiveness and program quality;
  • Counsel and advise on matters relating to planning, organizing and administering programs, and facilitating a continuing liaison between the College and the various constituents it serves;
  • Counsel, advise and demonstrate leadership in raising funds for the College from private, foundation and corporate sources which will assist the College in achieving both its mission and vision;
  • Advise and assist the College’s effort to communicate and inform the State of Florida’s legislature of the College’s mission and vision with the goal of securing and maintaining sufficient resources to fulfill both our mission and vision.
Members of the Executive Council

Eugene BalterEugene Balter, P.E. (Eng ’77)
Mr. Eugene Balter holds an engineering degree from USF. He joined HDR as the national director for transportation construction services and operations for the HDR Construction Control Corporation. He has 29 years of experience in construction management and construction engineering and inspection for roadway, bridge and airfield projects. A registered professional engineer, Balter is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Highway Engineers and the Florida Engineering Society.
Chuck BlackCharles “Chuck” Black, P.E. (Eng ’73)
Mr. Charles Black joined Tampa Electric Company in 1973 and in 1991 was named Vice President, Project Management for Tampa Electric Company. In 2003 he was named Senior VP – Generation with responsibility for all of TECO Energy’s generating assets. He received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1973 from the University of South Florida.
Fermin Diaz Fermin Diaz, P.E. (Eng’77)
Mr. Fermin Diaz holds a civil engineering degree from USF. He joined WilsonMiller, Inc. a then 40-person firm based in Naples, FL, as an entry-level design engineer. Fermin’s civil engineering career has centered on all aspects of land development and public infrastructure improvements for both public and private sector clients. Fermin is now President of WilsonMiller which is currently a multi-disciplinary consulting firm with a staff of 425 in offices located throughout Florida.
Robert GarciaRobert Garcia, P.E. (Eng ’72)
Mr. Robert Garcia is a graduate from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently the Vice President of Business Development at Tampa Bay Trane. Robert is a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers and is very experienced in building HVAC systems.
Sandy PettitSandy Pettit, P.E. (Chem ’94, MSChem ‘10)
 Ms. Sandy Pettit is the Chair of the USF Engineering Alumni Society. Sandy has over 15 years of engineering experience, working for Jacobs Engineering, TECO Energy, and Hillsborough County. She received her B.S. Ch.E. magna cum laude in 1994 from the University of South Florida. Recently, she has returned to USF to pursue a graduate degree in Chemical Engineering. Sandy is currently conducting research in the Applied Surface Science Lab, specializing in synthetic fuel production. She has been honored by the Society of Women Engineers as a National Distinguished New Engineer in 2003 and recognized by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for her outreach efforts with an Impact Award for Excellence in Education.
Charlie TouchtonCharles “Charlie” Touchton
Mr. Charlie Touchton has a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from The George Washington University. He is a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve, with active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces Special Weapons Project and the U.S. Navy’s Special Weapons Unit/Atlantic, and with reserve duty in the U.S. Navy’s Naval Reserve Naval Security Group Program.
Lilia Abron, PhD
(Peer Consultants)

Pat Beyer (Eng '72)
(TBE Group)

Douglas Brown
(DRS)
John Bucher (Elec '77)
(Peak Solar, LLC)

Ed Copeland, Jr.(Eng '73, MSEng '73)
(HDR Engineering, Inc.)

Geary Havran
(NDH Medical, Inc.)
Steve Henriquez (Eng'77)
(URS Corporation, Inc.)

Peter Schutz
(Harris & Schutz, Inc.)