The 2025 ISE Alumni Hall of Fame Breakfast celebrated this year’s Distinguished and Outstanding Young Award winners. Five new members were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Three received the Distinguished Alumni Award: Jon Jacocks, John Pazdan and Albert Weaver III, CSP. Two received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award: Jennifer Estridge and Colonel Blake Schwartz. Congratulations to all the winners and their families.

Department Head Julie Swann’s Opening Remarks

Distinguished Alumni Awards Winners

The Distinguished Alum Award is the department’s highest honor for graduates out of school for 20 years or more. It recognizes alums who have made significant contributions to their profession and community. The award also honors service to the department, college, and university that deserves special recognition.

Jon Jacocks

Jon Jacocks serves as President and CEO of Empower RF Systems, a Southern California-based company that designs and builds high-power RF amplifiers to strengthen mission-critical aerospace and defense operations. He earned his Industrial Engineering degree before Centennial Campus became part of NC State’s story.

Throughout his career, Jon has thrived on curiosity, collaboration, and leading by example. As an Army veteran, he believes deeply in service and opportunity. Therefore, he established an endowment to support military and veteran students in pursuing graduate engineering degrees, inspiring future leaders who think boldly and act with purpose.

Jon and his wife, Ann, reside in Thousand Oaks, California. Surrounded by four sons, two grandsons and two rescue dogs, they cherish the laughter and energy that fill every family gathering.

John Pazdan

John Pazdan (Industrial Engineering ’85) began his career as a Field Engineer with Square D Corporation before earning his MBA from UNC–Chapel Hill. Over the years, he built a successful career in the U.S. automotive supply chain, leading RMF, a manufacturer of corrosion-resistant coatings that serves major global automakers. Through vision and perseverance, he expanded the company to four plants and 350 associates before its sale to Aalberts in 2019.

Later, John invested in Blue 1 Energy Equipment Company, which developed diesel exhaust fluid systems for North American fleets, and helped guide its recent sale to Spatco Energy Solutions. Beyond business, he serves as Board Chair of Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital and as a Trustee for The Nature Conservancy. John and his wife, Emilie, live in Greenville, South Carolina.

Albert Weaver III, CSP

Albert Weaver III, CSP grew up in a hardworking family rooted in the farming communities of Western North Carolina. Although accepted to NC State, financial challenges led him to attend Western Carolina University, where he earned a B.S. in 1970 and later earned an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from NC State in 1977.

After nine years in public service, he went on to build a 46-year career in consulting, focusing on occupational safety, health, and environmental services. Moreover, his teaching and publications have influenced thousands of students and professionals nationwide. As an Eagle Scout, marathoner and lifelong learner, he continues to model perseverance and service. Through his numerous endowments, volunteer work, and leadership, Weaver strives to create opportunities and inspire others to pursue excellence, compassion, and lifelong growth, now especially in their health.

Outstanding Young Alumni Awards Winners

The Outstanding Young Alum Award recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves through professional practice and/or service and is for alumni who have been out of school for less than 20 years. This includes the University, profession, or society at large. Ideal candidates will have made rapid advancements within their organization.

Jennifer Estridge

Jennifer Estridge serves as the Program Lead for Payments Technology Governance at Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina. Throughout her career, she has advanced banking innovation through leadership in AI governance, business controls, and technology risk management. Moreover, she remains passionate about mentorship and community service.

Estridge contributes to the Park Scholarships Regional and Final Selection Committees and volunteers as a tutor with the Augustine Literacy Project in Charlotte. She earned her B.S. in Industrial Engineering in 2017 and her M.S. in Analytics in 2018, both from NC State University. Together with her husband, Shane Estridge ’17, she celebrates family life with their son, Brooks, and looks forward with joy to welcoming their second child in March 2026.

Colonel Blake E. Schwartz, Ph.D.

Colonel Schwartz serves as Chief of the Warfighting Analysis Division on the Joint Staff, guiding research that informs senior defense leaders on national security decisions. Previously, he was a U.S. Army War College Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University. Throughout his distinguished career, he has led soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq, and South America, commanded elite Special Forces units, and taught mathematics at West Point. Furthermore, he has advanced military innovation through data science and strategic analysis.

He earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees in Operations Research from NC State University. A decorated officer, Colonel Schwartz’s honors include the Bronze Star Medal and multiple commendations. Through leadership, intellect, and service, he continues to strengthen America’s defense and inspire the next generation of warriors.

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