Peg McNamara '78 (in memory of)

Peg McNamara, a proud graduate of Empire State College, now Empire State University, was also a founding member of its alumni/student association. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Peg was appointed a Fellow of the Energy Systems Institute at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences following her retirement from the U.S. Department of the Navy, Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, Rhode Island. Her roles in both were as liaison between local and national academic, industry, and community organizations advancing energy technology through cooperative research and development agreements. Her work developing NUWC’s Technology Transfer program and as an officer in the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Tech Transfer earned her numerous awards, including the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, and letters of commendation from the President of the United States and the Secretaries of the Navy and Defense. Peg began her professional life in science and public policy in the office of the Assembly Scientific Staff of the New York State Legislature facilitating groundbreaking legislation on clean air and energy conservation. Prior to the Assembly, she worked for the F.B.I. in Buffalo. Peg was deeply grateful for the opportunity Empire State afforded her, and she would be thrilled to know that her gift is helping today’s and tomorrow’s students.