Five professionals with ties to Missouri University of Science and Technology were inducted into the Missouri S&T Academy of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers during an induction ceremony held Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, on the S&T campus.
The academy recognizes outstanding alumni for their professional achievement and success. It also provides support and experience to help the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at Missouri S&T reach its collective mission and values.
New members are:
Bret A. Berthold of St. Louis, MO, Executive Director & CEO of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1990 from the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR). Bret has been with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District since 2009 and has served as Executive Director & CEO since July 2024. Previously, Bret served in various positions within MSD’s Operations Department. Before joining MSD, Bret held roles at Spectrum Brands, helping to lead their manufacturing operations, and Barry-Wehmiller Company, working within their design group. Bret participates in many organizations that support the wastewater and stormwater industry and enjoys water and snow skiing, as well as rebuilding old tractors and cars at the family farm.
Keith A. Esarey of St. Louis, MO, President/CEO of McClure Engineering Associates, earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1994 from the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR). After receiving his degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1994, Keith undertook graduate studies in Engineering Management at UMR and managed the Excel Program, a student-run initiative that promoted collaboration among new students. He concluded his academic work in late 1995 and began working as a project engineer at Monsanto/Solutia. Keith soon transitioned to McClure Engineering, a consulting firm in St. Louis specializing in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing system design and operations for buildings and campus facilities. His work has concentrated on projects involving advanced environmental control for specialized facilities where environmental control is a critical component of the operation. Starting at McClure Engineering as a Project Engineer, Keith became a client principal in 2000, overseeing engineering operations, and was named President in 2018.
Leah Lenzner of St. Louis, MO, Associate Technical Fellow & Structural Analysis Engineer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, earned her bachelor’s (2005) and master’s (2007) degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR). After graduating summa cum laude from UMR, Leah began her 20+ year career at Boeing, supporting several defense programs including C-17, F/A-18, T-7A, and Proprietary Programs. As an Associate Technical Fellow in Structural Analysis Engineering at the Boeing Company, Leah specializes in finite element analysis, airframe structural testing, and bird strike. Leah is an active volunteer at local K-12 schools, especially promoting girls’ interest in STEM. She is also an advisor for her former sorority, Chi Omega, at Missouri S&T.
Dr. Ashok Midha of Rolla, MO, Honorary Member of the Academy & Professor at Missouri S&T, earned his Ph.D. (1977) and M.S. (1970) degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and his B.S. (1968) from the National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, India. Before his academic career, he worked as a mechanical engineer at FluiDyne Engineering in Minneapolis. Dr. Midha served on the faculties of Michigan Technological University, Pennsylvania State University, and Purdue University before joining Missouri S&T in 1997 as professor and chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Dr. Midha is regarded as the “father of compliant mechanisms” and since 2012, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers has named a conference symposium after him in recognition of his “pioneering contributions to this growing and fruitful research community.” He was also a champion for design education, leading the $30M renovation and expansion of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering building and the establishment of the Product Innovation and Creativity Center (PICC) at Missouri S&T, which he directed. A prolific scholar, Dr. Midha authored nearly 140 journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters. His work advanced mechanical design, kinematics and dynamics of mechanisms, compliant mechanism design, and vibration analysis. He received numerous best paper, design, and research awards, including the prestigious ASME Design Engineering Division Mechanisms Committee Award (1998). He was named a Fellow of ASME in 2002 and served as associate editor for the Journal of Mechanical Design and feature editor for Mechanism and Machine Theory. Dr. Midha’s life was defined by intellectual rigor, dedication to students, and a passion for innovation that continues to inspire generations of engineers.
Stanford Oliver of Colombia, MD, President & CEO of DigiFlight, Inc. & Camelot Secure, earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1981 from the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR). DigiFlight (est. 1999) is a global technology firm that provides aerospace, space, enterprise IT, foreign military sales, and cybersecurity support to the Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, the Federal Reserve Board, NASA, and commercial clients. Camelot Secure (est. 2022), a subsidiary of DigiFlight, is a leading provider of integrated cybersecurity solutions to protect the 16 critical infrastructure sectors. Stan is a recognized entrepreneur, technologist, aerospace, and cybersecurity expert. He has over 40 years of experience in military, intelligence, and cybersecurity. Stan has also held a variety of command and staff positions during his 20 years of military service as an Army Aviator and Blackhawk Helicopter Pilot. Stan is active in numerous industry organizations, including the Association of the United States Army, the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, and Advancing Minorities in Engineering. He also currently serves as a board member on the DC Youth Orchestra Board of Directors, the Scholarship Foundation Board of the Army Aviation Association of America, and the Engineering Executive Council of Morgan State University’s Mitchell School of Engineering.