The Industrial Fasteners Institute honored recently-retired IFI managing director Robert Harris and Michael Lawler of Continental Aero with its 2018 Soaring Eagles awards.

The Soaring Eagle awards recognize individuals who have contributed outstanding time and effort in the leadership of the IFI or fastener industry.

Harris was honored with the Soaring Eagle Service award. Harris grew up in Kentucky and graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He completed a master’s in international finance from the College of William & Mary and 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 ships built for Amoco around the world.

Harris became the IFI managing director in 1995. He initially stabilized the IFI’s finances, in part by overseeing industry trade shows in Cleveland and Chicago for six years, adding three quarters of a million dollars to reserves. 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.

During the 1990s, Harris reversed the IFI’s stance on the U.S. Fastener Quality Act, which led to Congress amending the law to the industry’s benefit.

Harris led the publication of the 7th through 9th Inch Fastener Standards and 3rd Metric Fastener Standards editions. He changed the industry texts from conventional printing to desktop publishing, saving years of preparation and production costs for each revision.

Harris reorganized the IFI staff and hired “widely recognized industry leaders” into key technical and divisional leadership positions. His philosophy was “to hire best available personnel, get everyone on the same page, then get out of their way to let them succeed!”

Harris officially retired from the IFI at the end of 2017.

 

Lawless was given the Soaring Eagle Technology award, which recognizes contribution on fastener standards committees, publication of principles or documents, and / or development of fastener-related equipment, products or processes.

Pennsylvania native Lawler is a U.S. Army veteran who earned a bachelor degree in metallurgical engineering at Lafayette College. His fastener career including being senior product engineer and manager of fastener product development at SPS Technologies; aerospace development manager at Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp. and Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing.

Lawler has been a member and contributor to many material, product, and process standardization committees, including the Government Industry Fastener Working Group, National Aerospace Standards Committee, SAE E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems, Aerospace Material Specifications, Aircraft Locknut Manufacturer’s Association and the IFI. He co-authored technical publications related to new materials. At IFI, Lawler was active in Division II / Aerospace and was the division’s Technical Committee chair; multiple times Division II chair and IFI board.

As a spokesman for the aerospace fastener industry, he has been “relentless in aiming for clarity and common sense and is always willing to speak up on subjects for the benefit of the industry,” the IFI stated. “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.”

He has been an industry teacher and mentor.

Founded in 1931, the IFI is an association North American manufacturers of bolts, nuts, screws, rivets, pins, washers, and custom formed parts. Suppliers of materials, machinery, equipment and engineered services as associate members. Currently there are 73 manufacturer members and 61 associates.

For information on nominating individuals for a Soaring Eagle award: indfast.org/info/award.asp.