Academy of Engineering Excellence
ISE Alumni John Montague and James Strawbridge inducted into VT Academy of Engineering Excellence in 2017
John Montague (left) and College of Engineering (COE) interim dean G. Don Taylor.
Susan and James Strawbridge (center) and COE interim dean G. Don Taylor.
Virginia Tech College of Engineering recently inducted John W. Montague (Class of 1967) and James N. Strawbridge (Class of 1984) as two of five new members into the Academy of Engineering Excellence. They became the 22nd and 23rd ISE alumni among 146 Academy of Engineering Excellence members.
John W. Montague, Jr. received his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering as a member of the Class of 1967. Following his graduation from Virginia Tech, John W. Montague, Jr. took a job as an industrial engineer for Albemarle Paper Company. Not long after, he moved to Charlottesville, Virginia to pursue his Master's of Business Administration at University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.
For the next two years, Montague moved from New Orleans to Atlanta while working as a plant engineer and assistant to the regional manager for Continental Can Company, a U.S.-based manufacturer of metal containers and packaging. Montague then returned to his Richmond roots and, in 1974, founded John W. Montague, Jr. Custom Homes, Inc., where he remained president until 2004.
He has served as a board member and chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee for the Virginia Home for Boys. Today, Montague serves as a board member for both the W. E. Skelton 4-H Center and the Advisory Board of the Virginia Tech Industrial and Systems Engineering Department.
In his free time, Montague rides motorcycles and recently traveled to his 50th state on a motorcycle.
James N. Strawbridge received his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and operations research as a member of the Class of 1984. Following his graduation from Virginia Tech, Strawbridge pursued his law degree at University of Virginia. With his Juris Doctor in hand, he started working as an associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. and soon moved up the ranks to became a partner.
He would later go on to become executive vice president and chief financial officer of RealNames Corporation, a privately held technology company. Two years later, he made the switch to Worldview Technology Partners, a venture capital firm, where he acted as general partner and chief operating officer.
After 13 years, Strawbridge once again became a partner at Palo Alto, California-based law firm Cooley LLP. Strawbridge returned to a chief operating officer position in 2015, when he joined Stemcentrx, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company acquired by AbbVie Inc.
Today, Strawbridge works as an independent consultant and serves as an advisor to a handful of privately held technology companies.
ISE Alumni inducted to the Academy of Engineering Excellence
The Academy of Engineering Excellence was established in 1999 by Virginia Tech College of Engineering and the members of its Committee of 100 Advisory Board. The following 23 ISE alumni are among more than 140 Academy members. Inductees are listed by the reverse chronological order of the induction year.
| Name | Inducted | Class |
|---|---|---|
| John W. Montague | 2017 | B.S. in 1967 |
| James N. Strawbridge | 2017 | B.S. in 1984 |
| Kirk E. Spitzer | 2016 | B.S. in 1967 |
| Outstanding Young Alumnus Dr. Sharnnia Artis |
2015 | B.S. in 2002, M.S. in 2005, Ph.D. in 2007 |
| Outstanding Graduate Student Dr. Kristen Casto |
2015 | Ph.D. in 2009 |
| Dr. Vinod Chachra |
2015 | M.S. in 1968, Ph.D. in 1972 |
| Dr. Joseph Meredith, Jr. |
2014 | Ph.D. in 1997 |
| D. Wayne Snodgrass |
2014 | B.S. in 1968 |
| Major General Daniel M. Dick |
2013 | B.S. in 1970 |
| Charles O. Gordon, Jr. |
2011 | B.S. in 1969 |
| Dr. John A. White, Jr. |
2011 | M.S. in 1966 |
| Richard M. Arnold |
2010 | B.S. in 1956 |
| Donald L. Sage |
2009 | B.S. in 1956 |
| B. Fielding Rolston |
2008 | B.S. in 1964 |
| Charles G. O’Brien |
2007 | B.S. in 1956 |
| Outstanding Young Alumnus Dr. Steven M. Belz |
2006 | B.S. in 1995, M.S. in 1997, Ph.D. in 2000 |
| Jack Guynn |
2006 | B.S. in 1964 |
| Haller G. Prillaman |
2004 | B.S. in 1955 |
| Earl F. Myerholtz |
2003 | B.S. in 1948 |
| John F. Sweers |
2001 | B.S. in 1946 |
| John Grado | 2000 | B.S. in 1951 |
| William S. Cross, Jr. | 1999 | B.S. in 1941 |
| Charles O. Gordon, Sr. | 1999 | B.S. in 1942 |