From Experience: Career Insights from Our 2026 Distinguished Alumni Honorees

Each year, the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering recognizes select alumni whose professional achievement, leadership and service have advanced the energy industry while strengthening the legacy of UT PGE. This year, we selected six outstanding honorees with impacts across energy production, corporate leadership and engagement, academia and research.

Ahead of our Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner and Ceremony on October 16^th, we asked our honorees to reflect on their careers, what this honor means to them and what advice they have for the next generation of PGE students.

What does being a Distinguished Alumni Honoree mean to you?

Jack Trueblood: I am incredibly grateful and honored to receive this year’s ‘Rising Star’ award. I have looked up to many distinguished alumni who have come before me in the Department and am humbled to be recognized alongside them. While my name is on the award, it reflects the support of many people who have shaped my journey, from my parents, professors, early mentors and the PGE staff. This recognition is as much theirs as it is mine.

Don Roesle: I have always felt that whatever level of success I had during my professional career as a petroleum engineer was largely because I had the opportunity to gain an outstanding engineering education at the University of Texas. Without my educational background, I would never have been able to attain the level of success I did during 50 years in the oil business. I have always had a deep appreciation for UT and have always felt that I owe so much to the University, so to be recognized as a Distinguished Alumni is truly humbling. It’s as if the University is telling me congratulations on a job well done. In my own small way, I have made an impact on my profession.

Mojdeh Delshad: I always regarded the Nobel Prize as the most prestigious award. This year, I received the most prestigious award from PGE, where I graduated and have had the honor of contributing to research and training future PGE Distinguished Alumni. This award builds strong institutional pride, reinforces community ties and inspires current students by showcasing real-world paths to success. 

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

Francis Sommer: I led a multi-company, cross-functional team that delivered a project in Alaska that involved injecting massive amounts of water into a gas cap. ExxonMobil and Arco as well as BP’s managements had to be convinced it was a good idea. It was an example of the power of technical teams working together, despite a very divided and competitive business landscape.  We had to overcome politics and a history of mistrust to achieve an exceptional outcome. It proved that technical excellence is still at the core of the petroleum and geoscience industry.

Manny Rosales: What I am most proud of is the impact I’ve had on people and the organizations I’ve been fortunate to serve. I have had the unique opportunity to help shape and continuously improve ExxonMobil’s unconventional business for more than a decade, contributing to changes that created lasting value at both the operational and corporate levels. While those accomplishments are meaningful, the aspect I’m most proud of is building and developing high-performing teams. Seeing individuals grow, take on new challenges and achieve more than they thought possible has been the most rewarding part of my journey. For me, success is best measured not by personal achievements but by the collective accomplishments of the teams I’ve helped build and the positive impact they continue to create.

James Brill: I have always cherished the advancements of my students after they graduated. When I go to technical meetings that are attended by past students, I am so proud of role I played in their careers. It is strange feeling but so fulfilling when they ask to have a photograph taken with me.

What part of your career journey surprised or challenged you?

Sommer: The biggest surprise was learning that technical skills are only half the battle. Learning to navigate complex stakeholders and lead through influence, rather than authority, was a massive but rewarding challenge.

Delshad: Being the CEO and President of a startup company for 6 years to commercialize technologies developed at PGE was the most challenging. I learned a lot through my interactions with global service, major oil/gas companies, chemical manufacturers and IP lawyers.

Brill: I was always surprised and challenged with the incredible technical advancements made by outstanding engineering colleagues throughout the world. It is vitally important that you maintain an open relationship with them, recognize their contributions and collaborate with them as much as possible.

What’s one thing you’d like to tell current PGE students?

Roesle: It is very difficult to pick just one single thing I would like to tell current PGE students. First, don’t get disillusioned if you make mistakes or have errors in judgment in your work. We are all humans, and even engineers make mistakes. Learn from them, correct them and learn how to do better in the future. Store those experiences for future reference.

Connected with these thoughts on making mistakes or errors in judgment is the topic of integrity. Personal and professional ethics and integrity should always be central to your actions as an engineer. Especially if you choose to enter the arena of becoming a registered professional engineer. You are held to very high standards as a professional engineer, judged accordingly and held accountable. Becoming a good, experienced engineer is a lifelong journey that you build on every day of your career. Remember that every day can provide you with a new learning experience. Make those experiences count and make following good ethical standards a cornerstone of your engineering foundation.

Trueblood: The most actionable advice I can give to current PGE students is this: do the SPE Paper Contest! Having strong presentation skills is a tremendous asset. The SPE Paper Contest was without a doubt one of the best experiences to prepare me for going into industry.

Rosales: Appreciate the tremendous gift you’ve been given. Not only will you join the Longhorn family as a Texas Ex, but you will also become part of one of the most respected and connected petroleum engineering programs in the world. The technical education you receive is exceptional, but the relationships you build may prove to be even more valuable over the course of your career.

Dr. Bommer, who had a profound impact on so many of us, often reminded students that “it’s a small oilfield”. His point was that the classmates sitting beside you today will become your colleagues, business partners, customers, mentors and leaders tomorrow. Throughout my career, I’ve found his advice to be incredibly true. The network of alumni, faculty and industry professionals connected to UT PGE is second to none, and the strength of those relationships has opened doors, created opportunities and fostered lifelong friendships.

My advice is simple: stay connected and never underestimate the value of the PGE community. The people you meet here will shape your career in ways you cannot yet imagine.

This year’s celebration holds special significance for our community, as we will pay special tribute to the life and legacy of beloved professor and longtime Distinguished Alumni, Dr. Paul Bommer.

We encourage alumni, corporate partners and friends of UT PGE to join us in-person for this year’s Distinguished Alumni Weekend. If you are interested in attending or sponsoring the event, please contact our Assistant Director of Alumni & Corporate Relations, Michelle Proctor.