Perry L. Oakes
HIGHLIGHTS
Current Position
State Conservation Engineer
USDA/NRCS
Current Location
Auburn, Alabama
Awards
President’s Leadership Award from the Soil and Water Conservation Society (2012); Top Ten Federal Engineer of the Year (FEYA/NSPE, 2008); NRCS National Engineer of the Year (2008); Distinguished Service Award, Alabama Chapter SWCS (2005); Distinguished Engineer Award, Alabama Section of ASABE (1999); Appreciation Award, West Alabama Catfish Producers Association (1999); 15 USDA Certificates of Merit
What Perry Is Doing Now
I direct and supervise two engineers, one technician and one secretary at Auburn. I also provide technical supervision for seven engineers in Alabama. In addition to these roles, I oversee the entire NRCS engineering program for Alabama and also serve as the Emergency Watershed Protection Program Coordinator for Alabama.
Auburn Memories
As far as my favorite Auburn memory, it would have to be restoring “Old Nancy”, a Case steam engine tractor that the agricultural engineering students restored while I was in school at Auburn. The old tractor was completely dismantled, repaired and put back together. The tractor once even carried Auburn cheerleaders in parades on campus. This effort united the agricultural engineering students (biosystems engineering now), developed team building skills, and permanently linked a lot of engineers that went their separate ways after graduation. Old Nancy is still around the Auburn campus.
alumni Spotlight
