MechSE alumna Li San Poh (BSME 1998) was recognized today with a 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award from The Grainger College of Engineering.
The day’s events included a panel discussion with the award recipients about their experiences, lessons learned, and valuable advice for achieving success; and a dinner and awards presentation in honor of their achievements and contributions.
Poh, who also earned a BA in economics in 1998, was recognized “for a distinguished military career as an Air Force pilot, and her advocacy work for citizens of Singapore as a member of the Singapore Parliament.”
Poh currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Changi East Systems for Changi Airport Group in Singapore. She has been a member of the Singapore Parliament since 2020 and is the chair of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Sustainability and Environment and a member of the GPC for Transport. Her responsibilities with Changi Airport Group include developing robotics solutions and specialized airport systems for Changi Airport Terminal 5.
An active champion for women professionals in the STEM and aviation industries, Poh serves as an Advisor in Women Aviation International (SG). She is also an avid athlete and firmly believes in nurturing sporting champions. She serves as the president of the Singapore Table Tennis Association.
Poh previously served in the Republic of Singapore Air Force for 16 years as a search and rescue pilot. She was deployed for numerous life-saving missions, as well as in the humanitarian disaster relief mission in Indonesia following the Asian Tsunami in Dec 2005. She was also the first female to be appointed full-time aide-de-camp to the president of the Republic of Singapore.
In 2021, MechSE recognized Poh for her career achievements with the MechSE Distinguished Alumni Award.
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The awardees for 2026 include:
- Rose Castanares (B.S., '88, Ceramic Engineering)
- Scott H. Fisher (B.S., '73, Psychology; M.S., '76, Computer Science)
- James Holloway (B.S., '82, M.S., '84, Nuclear Engineering)
- Rashod R. Johnson (B.S., '00, Civil Engineering)
- Li San Poh (B.A., '98, Economics; B.S., '98, Mechanical Engineering)
- Ulku Rowe (M.S., '97, Computer Science)