Charlotte precision engineers: A legacy of national leadership
February 27, 2026
The UNC Charlotte Student Chapter of the American Society for Precision Engineering is a cornerstone of the university’s engineering community and a vital partner to the Center for Precision Metrology. Established in 1997, it holds the distinction of being the oldest student chapter in the nation, serving as a premier hub for students dedicated to the science of high-accuracy design, manufacturing, and measurement.
Graham Siddall, internationally recognized precision engineer and innovator, has set the bar for engagement in the ASPE, including a past presidency, establishment of the “Graham J. Siddall Student Scholarship,” and recipient of the ASPE’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In the spirit of high engagement and leadership, Niner Engineers are following in Siddall’s footsteps.
“I’ve had some very good mentors, including quite a few from the American Society of Precision Engineering. I became involved with ASPE right from day one, and this is when I came into contact with people like Bob Hocken who set up the precision engineering center at Charlotte. There are people around that are going to be mentors to you. Take advantage of that.”
– Graham Siddall
Faculty in leadership roles
The chapter’s influence extends far beyond the Charlotte campus, with a long history of faculty, staff and alumni serving in top-tier national leadership roles. This deep-rooted connection ensures that UNC Charlotte remains at the forefront of the precision engineering field. Key leaders include:
- Jimmie Miller: Current Executive Director of ASPE and Deputy Director of the CPM
- Stuart Smith: Immediate Past President of ASPE and Professor at UNC Charlotte
- John Ziegert: A past President of ASPE and recipient of the prestigious ASPE Lifetime Achievement Award (2023) for his immense contributions to the field.
- Bob Hocken: Known as the “father of modern metrology” at UNC Charlotte, Hocken was a foundational figure in both the CPM and ASPE leadership.
National recognition at competitions
The chapter is renowned for its competitive success, as evidenced by its wins at the national level. UNC Charlotte teams consistently win the ASPE National Student Challenge, a multidisciplinary competition that tasks students with solving complex precision engineering problems.
- 2022: First Place
- 2021: Second Place
- 2019: First Place (alongside the Uncertainty Vanquished Award)
- 2018: First Place
The chapter also fosters individual excellence through opportunities like the ASPE Student Scholarship, awarded to standout members to support their research and professional development. Past winners include Niner Engineer Kumar Arumugam ‘15, ‘21 Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering who now works at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Faculty research is also recognized by the ASPE, such as Jaime Berez, assistant professor of mechanical engineering. Berez recently received the ASPE Early Career Award for his work in geometric dimensioning and tolerancing and highlighting the gaps in its education.
“Over the years the general knowledge of GD&T has been in decline, leading to people not being able to properly specify parts,” explained Hadarel Rappaport, Charlotte ASME chapter president, about Berez’s research. “This leads to troubles designing and making machines. Dr. Berez’s work is helping to bring that knowledge back to the next wave of precision engineers.”
Learn more about the growth of CPM.
Learn more about Graham Siddall.