Dr. Thomas Blasingame , professor and head of the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in recognition of distinguished contributions in developing rate-transient tools to diagnose and predict hydrocarbon production.
Election to NAE membership is among the highest professional honors for an engineer. Members have distinguished themselves in various roles in business and the public sector.
“Congratulations to Dr. Blasingame on this well-deserved recognition. His career demonstrates exceptional dedication to advancing the science and practice of petroleum engineering,” said Dr. Robert H. Bishop, vice chancellor and dean of Texas A&M Engineering. “His scholarship, mentorship and service reflect the highest ideals of our profession, with lasting impact across education, research and the global energy industry.”
Blasingame’s vast research spans topics in applied reservoir engineering and modeling as well as production engineering. He has made significant contributions to petroleum literature in well test analysis, production data analysis, reservoir management and general reservoir engineering.
The NAE works to advance the national welfare by providing independent advice to the U.S. government while promoting a strong engineering profession and public understanding. It is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — a congressionally chartered, independent nonprofit that offers objective guidance on science, technology and health.
“I live to serve, and this is not just another service role,” said Blasingame. “I am looking forward to serving the nation, state and Texas A&M University at this level. The National Academies are primarily funded by federal grants and contracts; I take that investment as a sacred trust. This is literally the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Growing up in Lake Charles, La., a young Blasingame often took things apart just to see if he could put them back together — a strong sign of a budding engineer. He first came to College Station at 17 to pursue his bachelor’s degree. While it took him a few detours to find petroleum engineering, he has been a devout Aggie engineer ever since. He later earned both his master’s degree and Ph.D. in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M, making him a three-peat Aggie.
In stride with his passion for service and Aggieland, Blasingame has long been a staple in the College of Engineering as a professor and through his various academic service roles. He began as a graduate assistant in 1984 and has been with the department in a professional capacity for almost four decades.
“Our college is big enough to be a home for everyone, but small enough for everyone to be someone,” he said. “We create people who create things. There is a sense of purpose and a selfless desire to serve here.”
While his research continues to stand out among his peers, it is mentorship and a passion for developing future engineers that motivate Blasingame above all else. His unique style in the classroom involves engaging students in a hands-on capacity through humor and relatable concepts to foster active participation and intellectual growth.
His collaborative approach and distinctive appearance — including his trademark overalls — make Blasingame the type of professor his students remember long after graduation.
“Every young person needs someone in their corner — someone to believe in them for who they are, but also who they aspire to be,” he said. “I have had the best students, the best mentors and the best friends in my career. I try to make every relationship a partnership. I always ask, ‘how can I help you?’”
Blasingame notably served as president of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in 2021, becoming just the second person to step into the role directly from academia at the time. He was named an SPE Distinguished Member in 2000 and has received various honors from the organization, including the Distinguished Service Award in 2005. He was named head of the petroleum engineering department in May 2024.
“To me, being an engineer is a blessing and a curse,” he said. “I love the fact that I have had some flashes of genius as an engineer, but I curse the fact that I look at everything in life as a problem to be solved. I often say that it is a chronic disease — I fight it every day. Fortunately, I win about as much as I lose.”
By Campbell Atkins, Texas A&M University College of Engineering
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