Westinghouse Engineer Appointed to Distinguished Leadership Roles in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Westinghouse Electric Company today announced that Kenneth R. Balkey, a consulting engineer in its Engineering Services business segment, has been appointed senior vice president-elect of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Council on Standards and Certification for the term of June 2011 to June 2014.

In this position, Mr. Balkey will assume a leadership role in setting the strategic direction and implementation of policies, procedures and programs throughout the ASME Council on Standards and Certification. He will also act as spokesman for ASME codes, standards and certification programs, and work directly with the ASME Board of Governors in establishing strategic and performance metrics that are aligned with ASME strategies.

"I am delighted that Mr. Balkey has been appointed to this position," said Westinghouse Nuclear Services senior vice president Nick Liparulo. "He brings to ASME a legacy of technical leadership from the global nuclear industry, and we are extraordinarily fortunate to have his wealth of experience and wise advice."

Mr. Balkey will perform his responsibilities in the ASME organization in addition to continuing his role as consulting engineer at Westinghouse. At ASME, prior to being elected to this term, Mr. Balkey served as vice president, Nuclear, from 2005 to 2008. In 2008, he was the recipient of the ASME Melvin R. Green Codes and Standards Medal.

Independent of his appointment to senior vice president-elect of the Council on Standards and Certification, Mr. Balkey has been elevated to the grade of Fellow in ASME. This distinction, the highest elected grade among ASME members, recognizes exceptional engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering profession. He will be formally recognized at the ASME Board of Governors meeting this month in Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada).

Mr. Balkey joined Westinghouse in 1972 and has held technical leadership positions of increasing responsibility throughout the company. His current responsibilities in Engineering Services include providing consultation on technology developments related to codes and standards and risk management initiatives.  He has produced more than 140 publications and documents.

Mr. Balkey is a graduate of Pittsburgh's North Catholic High School and holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.  He currently serves as an adjunct lecturer in the Pitt Swanson School of Engineering nuclear engineering program.

ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.

Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba Corporation (TKY: 6502), is the world's pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world.  Westinghouse supplied the world's first pressurized water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport, Pa.  Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants, including 60 percent of those in the United States.

SOURCE Westinghouse Electric Company