Russell Parker on engineering
From Fall 2015 Commencement Address, Russell E. Parker · · Texas Engineering
“Engineers solve the problem, engineers made the world a better place and all the while produce great economic benefit and opportunity.”
On , Russell Parker, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at CALLON PETROLEUM CO/DE, spoke about engineering during Fall 2015 Commencement Address, Russell E. Parker on Texas Engineering.
About Russell Parker
Russell E. Parker, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Callon Petroleum, delivered the fall 2015 commencement address at the University of Texas at Austin's Cockrell School of Engineering, where he was honored as the 2015 Outstanding Young Engineering Graduate. In his speech, Parker discussed the efficiency of the U.S. oil and gas industry, stating that "the US oil and gas industry is so efficient producing domestic natural gas that LNG export terminals are in the works." He attributed a 16% drop in collective CO2 emissions from the U.S. power sector over the previous seven years to natural gas being "so much cleaner than coal or fuel oil," and said this was "not a result of policy or federal mandate" but rather the work of engineers. Parker, who earned his bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from the Cockrell School in 2000, reflected on his career trajectory, including his rise from junior engineer to asset manager at Hill Corp Energy and his subsequent role as president of Chief Oil and Gas. He encouraged graduates to prioritize fulfillment over salary, stating, "If you're chasing that sign on bonus or that next higher salary, you'll probably only be fulfilled until your dollar is spent." He also highlighted the achievements of Longhorn engineers, noting that they "comprised the leadership of 40% of the top private E&P companies in the United States and 25% of the top public E&P companies."