KU News Release

May 1, 2007
Contact: Jill Hummels, School of Engineering, (785) 864-2934.

Three to receive top honor from KU School of Engineering

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Engineering and its advisory board will honor three of the school’s alumni for careers that exemplify professional achievement.

On Thursday, May 3, Linda Zarda Cook of The Hague, Netherlands; retired Rear Adm. Gene Kendall of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; and Kenneth Vaughn of Prairie Village will receive the Distinguished Engineering Service Award. The award was created by the KU School of Engineering Advisory Board in 1980 to honor engineering alumni, or engineers who’ve maintained a close association with the school, for their outstanding contributions to the theories and practices of engineering research and development in new fields of engineering or direction of an organization that has made exceptional contributions in design, production and development.

“These three engineers have had an extraordinary impact on the people of the world,” said Stuart R. Bell, dean of the KU School of Engineering. “Linda Cook has risen through the ranks to one of the top positions at Royal Dutch Shell and has been a champion for sustainable development. During his highly decorated military career, Gene Kendall provided important technical contributions as well as played an integral role in the training of future naval leaders. Equally as significant are the contributions of Ken Vaughn, the retired principal and president of Larkin and Associates of Kansas City, Mo. A true leader in every sense of the word, Ken has shared his expertise with so many through his volunteer efforts as well as through his design projects. The School of Engineering and its advisory board are pleased to recognize these outstanding alumni”

Cook, Kendall and Vaughn will each received a bronze sculpture acknowledging the achievement. Portraits of the honorees and highlights of their professional accomplishments also will become part of the permanent awards display in Eaton Hall, home of the School of Engineering.

“These alumni are outstanding role models of personal and professional integrity for our students to emulate,” said Bell.

Linda Zarda Cook
Linda Zarda Cook rose through the ranks in an industry dominated by men to become one of the top executives in one of the top energy companies in the world.

As an executive director and member of the board of Royal Dutch Shell, she is responsible for Shell’s global gas and power, renewable energy and hydrogen divisions and Shell Global Solutions. Cook also is a regional managing director for Shell’s activities in the Asia Pacific region.

A native of Kansas City, Kan., Cook joined Shell’s exploration and production division in Houston, Texas, as a petroleum engineer after graduating from KU in 1980.

After a variety of technical and managerial appointments, in 1998 she became a member of Royal Dutch Shell’s global exploration and production leadership team based in The Hague, Netherlands, with responsibility for strategy and business development. In 2001, Cook was named CEO of Shell’s London-based gas and power division. In 2004, Cook was named executive director for Royal Dutch Petroleum.

Cook is routinely recognized as one of the most powerful women executives in the world. She has developed a reputation as a leader who generates respect and wins strong performance, while also presenting Shell’s softer side: a commitment to sustainable development and responsible interaction with a variety of stakeholders.

Cook is a member of the China Development Forum, the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the board of directors for the Boeing Co.

She and her husband, Steven, reside in the Netherlands. They have three children.

Gene R. Kendall
Retired Rear Adm. Gene R. Kendall exemplified innovation, professionalism and leadership throughout his lengthy naval career.

Kendall completed training in nuclear power in 1968 and was commissioned from the Naval Enlisted Scientific Education Program at KU. He earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics in 1971 and a master’s in engineering in 1972. While at KU, Kendall was integral in establishing the Student Council for Recruiting, Motivating and Educating Black Engineers — the inception of minority and diversity programs at the School of Engineering.

As a young officer, Kendall served on several ships, earning promotions along the way.
Kendall’s tours included Surface Warfare Officer School as the founding director of the Engineering Officer of the Watch course and director of Engineering Specialty Training. He also was special assistant to the chief of naval operations and fellow with the chief of naval operations’ Strategic Studies Group XV at the Naval War College. As director of the U.S. Naval Academy’s Division of Mathematics and Science in 1992, he was the first African American and first non-Naval Academy graduate to lead a major academic division.

In 1996, he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral and became the 12th African American in U.S. Navy history to achieve that rank.

Throughout his career, Kendall was recognized for the leadership and professionalism he brought to his position, as well as for the technological contributions he made in the field of large-bore gunnery, anti-submarine underwater acoustic operations and surface ship engineering propulsion plant operations. His personal awards include two Legion of Merits and three Meritorious Service Medals. He has been involved in the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, the National Society of Black Engineers, American Society of Naval Engineers and the Surface Navy Association. He serves on the School of Engineering Advisory Board.

Kendall currently is director of training for GSO Corp. He and his wife, Sandra, live in Fernandina Beach, Fla. They have two sons.

Kenneth J. Vaughn
Kenneth J. Vaughn’s career has been a noteworthy combination of public service and private practice.

After graduating from KU with a degree in civil engineering in 1957, he was hired as a structural design engineer with Wilson and Company in Salina, where he performed structural analysis and design of bridges, water containment structures and buildings.

In 1960, Vaughn took a leave of absence to pursue a master’s degree in civil engineering at KU. During this time, he also worked as a special projects engineer for the Kansas State Water Resources Board, evaluating sites for the future Clinton Lake dam. After completing his degree he returned to Wilson and Company.

In 1963, Vaughn joined Larkin and Associates, now known as the Larkin Group, and was hired as engineering consultant to the city of Prairie Village. At Larkin he was elevated to partner status by 1965. He performed design, management and leadership responsibilities and is recognized by employees, colleagues and competitors as a talented mentor with a high level of professionalism who always treated others with respect. In 1980, his work on the Brush Creek stabilization project, which is thought by many in the Kansas City area to be of vital importance to the safety of thousands, won a first place award for public improvements from Kansas Consulting Engineers.

In 1984, Vaughn was elected the first president of the firm when it was incorporated. Vaughn retired as principal and president of Larkin Associates in 1994.

He is a professional engineer in five states and has been actively involved in numerous professional organizations. He has been a loyal supporter of KU and in 1976 was selected as one of the first members of the Department of Civil Engineering Advisory Board, on which he continues to serve.

Vaughn and his wife, Marilyn, reside in Prairie Village. They have three children and three grandchildren.

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