ASME President, 1992-1993

Joseph A. Falcon, P.E. is senior partner, J.A. Falcon & Associates, Huntington Beach, California.

Mr. Falcon holds the B.S.M.E. degree from Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, New York, 1943, and the M.S.M.E. from Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, 1947. He also took graduate work at Columbia University, New York City, and at the University of California, Los Angeles.

His career has spanned the energy field for over four decades.  Primary experience has been in power generation on fossil fuel fired plants, nuclear power, geothermal and alternative energy facilities, and in recent years, in the cogeneration area.  Throughout this period, he served in a multitude of international assignments in Europe, Asia, and North and South America.

In 1987 he formed a consulting group of power engineers, whose work has been primarily in the cogeneration area.  Projects have included cogeneration facilities for two major universities in the Southern California area, industrial applications, and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) plants in the Kern River oil fields.

From 1970 to 1987, he was a project engineering manager with the Bechtel Power Corp.  The diverse assignments covered domestic and multinational projects, with his specific work covering the spectrum from technical analysis to project development, including permitting, financing, and working with overseas agencies.

A Fellow of the Institute for the Advancement of Engineering, Mr. Falcon received a special award from UCLA as the “father of the power engineering program” at the university.  He was on staff at UCLA for 32 years, teaching and directing programs in power generation.

He has served as president of the Americans for Energy Independence, California, Inc.  Currently he is a member of the boards of directors of the New port Foundation (a Southern California Institution with research programs on national and international economic issues); the Los Angeles Power Producers Association; and the Geothermal Resource Council.

Long active in ASME, Mr. Falcon was named a Fellow in 1976 and served on the Board of Governors from 1986 to 1990.  He was a member of the Board on Minorities and Women.  He was vice president of the Energy Conversion Group; chairman of the Mexico Section; and the ASME representative to UPADI, the Pan American Engineering Association.  He has been active on the regional and section levels, as well as serving in a number of positions with Divisions, particularly the Power Division.  In 1991, Mr. Falcon received the Church Medal, given by ASME for increasing the value, importance, and attractiveness of mechanical engineering education.

Mr. Falcon is a registered professional engineering in California and New York.  The father of two, Mr. Falcon is married and lives in Huntington Beach.