Robert E. “Bob” Bateman 

Robert E. “Bob” Bateman, who earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering in 1946 and an honorary doctorate in 1992, dedicated his entire 42-year career to The Boeing Company, leaving an enduring mark on the aerospace industry. He began by contributing to development of the Boeing B-52 and 707 and later led pioneering projects in Re-Entry Vehicles, Advanced Marine Vehicles, and Lunar Exploration. Bateman's most renowned achievement was leading the billion-dollar development of the Boeing 747, an aviation milestone. He held various leadership roles at Boeing, including vice president of the company’s Washington, D.C., office, as well as vice president of governmental and institutional affairs. Purdue recognized Bateman with a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in 1974, an Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Award in 1999, a Purdue Engineering Alumni Association Presidents Lifetime Award in 1998, and the Order of the Griffin in 2005. Additionally, Bateman was inducted into the Navy League Hall of Fame, and the secretary of the navy presented him with a Meritorious Public Service Award in 1968 and a Distinguished Public Service Award in 1972.