Bruce Barna

Bruce Barna first came to Michigan Tech as a student in 1964 while it was still the Michigan College of Mining and Technology. He received BS and MS degrees in Chemical Engineering from MTU and a PhD from New Mexico State University. He worked for Reynold’s Aluminum in Oregon, Enjay (now Exxon) in New Jersey, and Kalamazoo Spice Extraction (Kalsec) in Michigan.

Bruce was recruited by Dr. John Patton, the lead faculty for the Plant Design Program in the Chemical Engineering Department, to take over his role when he left, which Bruce did for 30 years until he retired in 2008. John led the design program to a position of national leadership, including multiple wins in the annual AICHE Plant Design Contest.

As a licensed professional engineer in both Michigan and New Mexico since 1981, Bruce provided his expertise through Tech Specialists, Inc. a corporation that he and two other alumni formed to provide technical support for process, mechanical, and piping design. When MTU acquired funding for the Process Simulation and Control Center (PSCC), they helped design the two initial skid-mounted modules: the distillation and PDMS experiments.

Bruce has an MTU patent for a process to convert PET plastic back to its starting raw materials. He also developed software to analyze the performance of boilers operating on various fuel sources. The program generates an ASME Power Test Code Analysis and was marketed by Gulf Publishing Company for many years with the proceeds going to MTU.

One of Bruce’s most rewarding achievements is the creation of a cooperative agreement between MTU and the Universidad de Sonora in Hermosillo, Mexico. He developed a close relationship with the university, leading to years of faculty and student exchanges. After the creation of NAFTA, the two universities were positioned to receive grants requiring the cooperation of two universities from each NAFTA country. These and other joint research contracts helped the university become the premier public university research institution in Mexico for multiple years. Michigan Tech ultimately established a formal cooperative agreement with the university and awarded an honorary doctorate to Dr. Pedro Ortega Romero, university president, in 2007.

Bruce and his wife, Jaclyn, are enjoying their retirement in Houghton, MI. They have two daughters. Katie is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and works in Minneapolis. Nickie has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from MTU and works for Kimberly-Clark in Wisconsin.

Excerpted from the 2025 Chemical Engineering Academy induction ceremony.