The Governor’s Medal award program was initiated in 1987 to recognize
those who made career achievements and/or provided distinguished service
that has benefited the State of Utah and the country in the areas of
science and technology. Specific criteria were developed to determine
the significance of these contributions to the economic development of
the State.
Academia- Byard D. Wood
Department Head and Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Utah State University
Dr. Wood has impacted Utah’s science and technology base through a
five-decade career and commitment to developing sustainable, renewable
energies including solar and biofuels, and to educating the next
generation of Utah’s bright and promising engineers. He launched the
Utah Science, Technology and Research (USTAR) Biofuels Initiative to
develop research facilities and infrastructure for biofuels and
bioproducts research and development. Under his eight-year leadership,
USU’s Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering program has increased its
undergraduate student population by one-third from 432 to more than 670,
and graduate students have nearly doubled at 100. He has also
demonstrated commitment to diversity and has doubled the number of
female undergraduate students in the program.
