Texas Tech Mourns Loss of Professor and Former Mechanical Engineering Chairman Oliver McGee

June 18, 2020

McGee served as chairman of the department from 2016-17.

Oliver McGee, a professor and former chairman from 2016-17 of Texas Tech University's Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering, died on Sunday, June 7. He was 62 years old.

"Oliver was a professor, colleague and friend who will be missed by many," said Al Sacco Jr., dean of the College of Engineering. "As I have learned to do in my time on this earth, please, in thought and prayer, celebrate his life. Don't mourn his death. Oliver was physically and in actions bigger than life. Although we were not always in agreement, I will miss Oliver's big smile and contagious laughter. We offer our sincere condolences to his loved ones. Rest in peace, my friend."

McGee was the former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Technology Policy (1999 to 2001) in the Clinton administration and the former senior policy adviser in the Clinton White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (1997-99).

McGee also served as the 2012-13 American Council on Education Fellow to UCLA Chancellor Gene Block and was a former United Negro College Fund Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. He served as Vice President for Research and Compliance at Howard University from 2007-08.

McGee was an aerospace, mechanical and civil engineer. He authored seven books, including "Bridging The Black Research Gap: On Integrated Academic and Research Capacity Building at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)" and "Jumping The Aisle (How I Became a Black Republican in the Age of Obama, Essays Book 1)."

McGee had been a co-host on "YourVoice™ America!" since 2017 and a Member of Council and Associate Fellow at the World Certification Institute since 2014.

McGee earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from The Ohio State University (1981) and his master's degree in civil engineering (1983) and his doctoral degree (1988) in engineering mechanics with a minor in aerospace engineering from the University of Arizona. He also received a Master's of Business Administration (2004) from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and a certificate of professional development (2001) from The Wharton School.

tags: College of Engineering, Faculty, Stories

Texas Tech University

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Whitacre College of Engineering

The Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering has educated engineers to meet the technological needs of Texas, the nation and the world since 1925.

Approximately 4,646 undergraduate and 1,040 graduate students pursue bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees offered through seven academic departments: civil, environmental and construction; chemical; computer science; electrical and computer; industrial, manufacturing and systems; mechanical; and petroleum.

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Department of
Mechanical Engineering

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is the largest in the Whitacre College of Engineering and is among the top U.S. universities in the awarding of mechanical engineering undergraduate degrees.

As a leading educator of industry-ready mechanical engineers, Texas Tech prepares mechanical engineering students and graduates who have a reputation of high academic skills in engineering, math and science. Industry employers report that Red Raider engineers have the strong work ethic and emotional intelligence necessary in today's corporate environment and field atmosphere.