INDEPENDENCE, OHIO –At an awards ceremony held during the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI) in Kiawah Island, South Carolina,the IFI Soaring Eagle Service Award was presented to Robert J. Harris, retired from IFI; and the IFI Soaring Eagle Technology Award was presented to Michael Lawler, Continental Aero.

The 2018 Soaring Eagle Service Award recipient is Robert J. Harris

The IFI Soaring Eagle Service Award recognizes individuals who have contributed outstanding time and effort in the leadership of the Industrial Fasteners Institute and/or contributed to the health and well-being of the entire industrial fastener industry.

2018 IFI Soaring Eagle Service Award Recipient Robert J. Harris and wife, Pat

Rob Harris grew up in the Blue Grass State of Kentucky and graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY. He completed a Master’s in International Finance from College of William & Mary, followed by an MBA from DePaul University. He was a gunboat Captain during the Vietnam War. His experiences include Port Captain with Amoco International Oil Co., Fleet Captain with SOHIO/BP, and corporate VP for an Aerospace company producing astronaut life support and propulsion systems for NASA shuttle and space station programs. He also oversaw the construction of all ships built for Amoco around the world.

Rob joined the Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI) in 1995 as Managing Director. His first and most significant impact was to stabilize IFI’s financial situation, which he did in part by directly overseeing industry trade shows in Cleveland and Chicago for six years, adding three quarters of a million dollars to reserves. Then, with Institute leadership, he reorganized IFI Divisions and rationalized dues resulting in reserves now being at the two years’ operating cost level of $2.1 million. He also relocated IFI headquarters from downtown Cleveland to co-location with PMA reducing annual operating and staffing costs by about $400,000.

A major challenge facing the fastener industry in the 1990s was the Fastener Quality Act (FQA). With Rob’s leadership and strong membership support, IFI reversed the industry’s stance on the FQA and succeeded, with the assistance of representatives in Washington, in amending the FQA to the industry’s benefit.

Rob mobilized membership participation through the successful publication of the 7^th, 8^th and 9^thInch Fastener Standards and 3^rdMetric Fastener Standards editions. He changed the production of the books from conventional printing to desktop publishing, literally saving years of preparation and hundreds of thousands of dollars in production costs for each revision.

Rob’s most enduring legacy is his efforts to reorganize staff and to hire widely recognized industry leaders into key technical and divisional leadership positions. Rob’s philosophy has been to hire best available personnel, get everyone on the same page, then get out of their way to let them succeed!

Rob formally retired from his position at the Institute on December 31, 2017. IFI and the fastener industry at large are grateful to have benefitted from his leadership and significant contributions.

This year’s recipient of the Soaring Eagle Technology Award is Michael J. Lawler

The IFI Soaring Eagle Technology Award recognizes individuals who have extensive experience in the industrial fastener industry and who have made significant contributions to the technological advancement oftheindustry. Contributions may be through extensive work on fastener standards committees; the publication of widely acclaimed principles or documents; and/or through the development of fastener-related equipment, products or processes which have been widely acknowledged as advancements in fastener technology.

2018 IFI Soaring Eagle Technology Award Recipient Michael J. Lawler

Mike Lawler was born in Bethlehem, PA and graduated from Lafayette College with a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering and is a U.S. Army veteran.

During his career, Mike was Senior Product Engineer and Manager of Fastener Product Development at SPS Technologies, Aerospace Development Manager at Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp. and Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing (CAM).  Mike has been a long-time member and contributor to many material, product, and process standardization committees, including the Government Industry Fastener Working Group (GIFWG), National Aerospace Standards Committee (NASC), SAE E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems, Aerospace Material Specifications (AMS), Aircraft Locknut Manufacturer’s Association (ALMA), and the Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI). Mike has also co-authored several technical publications related to new materials.  At IFI, he has been part of Division II (Aerospace Fastener Division) and served for many years as the division’s Technical Committee Chairman before serving as Chairman of Division II multiple times and has also represented the division on IFI’s Board of Directors.

Mike is a dedicated spokesman and representative of the aerospace fastener industry. He is relentless in aiming for clarity and common sense and is always willing to speak upon subjects for the benefit of the industry. He is a forceful advocate for doing things correctly while adhering to the highest standard of ethical conduct. When voting or commenting on project ballots, his opinions and reasoning command respect from his peers and colleagues.Mike is both a teacher and mentor who is always willing to share his expertise and knowledge.

We are honored to recognize Mike Lawler as recipient of the 2018 IFI Soaring Eagle Technology Award.

Submit a Nomination

Visit the website at http://www.indfast.org/info/award.asp to submit a nomination for the 2019 Soaring Eagle Awards program.

About IFI

Industrial Fasteners Institute, headquartered in Independence, Ohio, is an Association of the leading North American manufacturers of bolts, nuts, screws, rivets, pins, washers, and a myriad of custom formed parts. Suppliers of materials, machinery, equipment and engineered services, are Associate Members of the Institute. IFI membership currently stands at 73 Company Members and 61 Associate Members.

For over 80 years, IFI’s fastener manufacturing member companies have combined their skills and knowledge to advance the technology and application engineering of fasteners and formed parts through planned programs of research and education. Users of fasteners and formed parts in all industries benefit from the continuing design, manufacturing, and application advances made by the Industrial Fasteners Institute membership.