Meet MSPE Member Larry Decker, PE
An MSPE member since 1987, Larry Decker’s distinguished career includes: Service as an officer in the U.S. Navy; 40 years of working as a project, staff, application, and environmental engineer for industry and engineering firms; and 18.5 years as an Engineering Professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology. In addition, for 23 years, Mr. Decker and his wife Ruth have volunteered to serve as the Metrowest Chapter Coordinators for MATHCOUNTS in Massachusetts.
Mr. Decker has answered the questions below so we may know him better. Thank you, Larry, for your support and dedication to our country, the engineering profession, MSPE and MATHCOUNTS!
Q: Why did you join MSPE?
A: I joined MSPE to network with other professional engineers, to support the profession, for professional development and to make new friends.
Q: What do you value most about being an engineer?
A: I value being an engineer because the engineering profession helps to make the world a better place. Most everything around us was designed and built by engineers. I have always enjoyed creating and building things. Engineering and environmental projects have always felt like a hobby to me. Towards the end of my career I was able to teach and pass on some of my knowledge to young engineering students at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.
Q: Please describe a project that you’re involved with.
A: Most recently I have been a member of the Maintenance Council at church where we have installed solar panels on the roof of our Parish House, installed four new 97% efficient gas furnaces in our Parish House and will be refurbishing our Meeting House this summer. In my working career, I enjoyed working as an application engineer for the installation of large air pollution control systems for industrial plants. While at Wentworth institute of Technology my students and I designed a carbon neutral greenhouse that was used for a variety of science projects.
Q: How do you spend your free time?
A: I enjoy singing in the church choir, oil painting, reading and following all kinds of sports. We have a large family and I enjoy supporting and being in touch with them. For exercise I like to ski, walk and bike ride.
EDUCATION:
BS in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University
MS in Management Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology
PREVIOUS CAREER EXPERIENCE:
Engineering Professor at Wentworth institute of Technology for 18 ½ years
A project, staff, application, and environmental engineer for 40 years for following companies:
Commonwealth Gas Company
Fay Spofford and Thorndike
Charles T. Main
UOP Air Correction Division
Humble Oil
US Navy Engineering Officer