William E. Boeing Distinguished Lecture 2005

Dennis Mendoros, founder, owner, and managing director of Euravia Engineering & Supply Co. Ltd. delivered the seventh William E. Boeing Distinguished Lecture entitled Technological Advancement through Innovation and Cluster Development.

The lecture, sponsored by the School of Aeronautics & Astronautics was held in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall on November 30, 2005 where Mendoros shared his thoughts on why developed nations should not compete on price alone and why continuous product development, innovation, and a well-managed supply chain should drive competitiveness.

Euravia Engineering & Supply Co. Ltd. is based in East Lancashire, England. Euravia is a dynamic, expanding company involved in the refurbishment, testing, and certification of high-speed aero-engines, as well as Post Design Services (PDS) for the development of integrated computerized aviation programs. Euravia is a prime contractor to the U.K. Ministry of Defense, NATO, and international airline companies.

An aeronautical engineer and U.K. Civil Aviation Authority licensed engineer, Mendoros studied aeronautical engineering in Scotland and the Hellenic Air Force in Greece. Following service in the Hellenic Air Force as an engineer at the Tactical Air Force Headquarters, he served with General Electric as an evaluation engineer and progressed to head of all foreign programs for the Hellenic Aerospace Industry. Mendoros is a founder, member, and chairman of the Northwest Aerospace Alliance (NWAA) in England. The NWAA is considered a role model for cluster development representing more than 750 aerospace companies aimed at promoting competitiveness and best practices. He is also a member of the Northwest economic panel of the Bank of England, board member of the University of Central Lancashire, member of the Lancaster University Court, and works closely with a number of other regional universities.

As a board member of the Northwest Development Agency he was chairman of the Northwest Innovation and Technology Advisory Board and Business Development group. He is a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a non-destructive testing engineer. Mendoros was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen's Millennium honors list for services to industry and commissioned a deputy lieutenant for the County of Lancashire.