Outstanding mechanical engineering alumni recognized with department awards

Two graduates of the UB Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)—Luciano Castillo and Brandon Denton—have been named recipients of the 2023 MAE Alumni Achievement Award. Castillo has earned the Distinguished Career Award, while Denton has earned the Early-Mid Career Award.

Castillo was honored for his scientific contributions on turbulence and wind energy, which has made a transformational impact on large-scale wind farms. He has demonstrated how renewable energy can save water, create jobs and mitigate green-house gases. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering of Mexico, a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Additionally, he is well-known for his big thinking and passion for social inequality, climate change and diversity.

Castillo received both his BS and PhD degrees in mechanical engineering from UB in 1990 and 1997, respectively. He is the Kenninger Professor of Renewable Energy and Power Systems in the School of Mechanical Engineering and the Dean’s Faculty Fellow for Hispanic/Latino Engagement for the College of Engineering at Purdue University. He currently serves on the MAE Department Advisory Board.

Denton was recognized for his contributions to the design and development of next generation monopropellant and bipropellant rocket engines. He was instrumental in leading hot-fire test campaigns to assess rocket design performance. He spearheaded efforts to leverage additive manufacturing in rocket engine designs and conducted research and development of convoluted neural network technologies with digital imaging to evaluate and screen production injectors during water tests.

Denton received his PhD in mechanical engineering from UB in 2022; his BS from the University of Rochester and his MS from the Rochester Institute of Technology. From 2017 to 2023, Denton worked for Moog in the Space and Defense Group. In 2023, he accepted a position as a senior technical specialist with Arcfield.

Both Castillo and Denton were formally recognized at an award ceremony held by the department on campus at the end of the Spring 2023 semester. MAE Department Advisory Board members Mark Glauser, BS '82, PhD, '87, and James van Oss, BS '81, MS '83 were in attendance to present the awards, along with Chair and Professor Francine Battaglia.

Established in 2021 by the Mechanical and Aerospace Department Advisory Board, the MAE Alumni Achievement Awards recognizes outstanding contributions and the impact that UB mechanical and aerospace engineering alumni have had in the engineering field and society.

Nominations for the 2024 MAE alumni awards are now being accepted. Visit the MAE Alumni Achievement Awards web page to learn more about submitting a nomination.