The Purdue Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award is presented by the College of Engineering to engineering alumni who have distinguished themselves in any field of endeavor that reflects favorably on Purdue University, the engineering profession, or society in general.

2010 Distinguished Engineering Alumnus - Thomas A. Burke

Mr. Burke received a bachelor’s degree in Machine Systems Engineering from Purdue University in 1979. He has been a long time member of several professional organizations, including ASABE and SME.

In the beginning of his career, Mr. Burke spent 13 years with Ford Motor Company in the Climate Control Division in a variety of engineering and operations positions in the United States and Mexico. Then, Mr. Burke worked for nine years with Visteon Corporation, where he was Vice President of the North American Manufacturing Operations with responsibility for more than $10 billion in sales. While there, he led an effort to develop and implement business strategies to enhance the company’s global manufacturing product portfolio. Before that, and based in Cologne, Germany, Mr. Burke served as Vice President of European and South American Manufacturing and Vice President of North American and Asian Operations.

Mr. Burke joined Modine Manufacturing Company in 2005 as Executive Vice President. In July 2006, he was promoted to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, taking on the responsibilities of streamlining the company’s global organizational structure.  As COO, he was in charge of all global operations for the Powertrain Cooling, Engine, Passenger Thermal Management, Commercial and Fuel Cell Products Groups, as well as the Environmental, Safety and Security Department.

Mr. Burke was born in South Dakota and is a native of Bloomington, Illinois. He is on the Board of Trustees of MAPI/Manufacturers Alliance and been nominated to become a director of the National Association of Manufacturing for a term beginning in January 2010. In addition, Mr. Burke serves on the Board of Directors of the Racine County United Way. He resides in Racine, Wisconsin with his wife Ginee, and they have two grown children.

• 2001 Distinguished Engineering Alumnus - Harmon Towne
• 1997 Distinguished Engineering Alumnus - Wayne Skaggs
• 1993 Distinguished Engineering Alumnus - Kevin Forster
• 1990 Distinguished Engineering Alumnus - Don Price
• 1988 Distinguished Engineering Alumnus - Robert Marin
• 1979 Distinguished Engineering Alumnus - Ben Pollard
• 1977 Distinguished Engineering Alumnus - Howard Johnson
• 1973 Distinguished Engineering Alumnus - Paul Sink