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Outstanding Alum

Robert R. "Bob" Hardison, P.E.

B.S. in Engineering '67, MBA '79

Title: Director of Quality and Technical Services Division, Newport News Shipbuilding

Personal Data: married to Karen, three daughters

Professional Commitments and Honors:

  • National President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), 1985-87, and ASNT Fellow
  • Recipient of the Philip Johnson Honorary Membership Award, ASNT's highest honor, 1993
  • Member of National Board of Directors for the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 1997-99, and ASTM Fellow
  • Recipient of the Charles Briggs Award, ASTM Committee E7's highest award, 1992
  • Old Dominion University Alumni Association President, 1995-96
  • Currently serves on the Old Dominion University Educational Foundation Board of Trustees

I had a great time as an Old Dominion engineering student. I was President of my college social fraternity, Theta Xi, and we were the fraternity that brought the "Greek Rock" from the mountains of Virginia and placed it on the Mall. If you read the inscriptions on the rock where it now stands in front of Kaufman Hall, you will see our fraternity's name listed first. We won the contest for getting the most students into a Volkswagen. I don't remember exactly how many we finally got into the car, but I was on the bottom!

My experience as an engineering student at Old Dominion was very valuable to me. I had the opportunity to work with and learn from many great people, faculty, staff and other students, and the education I received prepared me for a rewarding career.