Tom Watson, P.E., Fellow Life Member, is chief engineer, Daikin McQuay, Staunton, Va. He oversees new product development for centrifugal compressor technology and is primarily involved in technical areas related to refrigerant applications, aerodynamics, bearing design and motor applications. He holds five patents related to refrigerant, gas and chiller compressors.

As ASHRAE’s president, Watson directs the Society’s Board of Directors and oversees the Executive Committee. His presidential theme is Broadening ASHRAE’s Horizons, which emphasizes the role of ASHRAE members as leaders in the application of sustainable design and practices in our communities worldwide. “Let us build on a strong heritage as a technical society and broaden the application of our technology to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world,” he said. “We must look at broadening our technology, our applications and our people.”

Watson became involved in ASHRAE in 1972 and became a member of Technical Committee 8.2, Centrifugal Machines, soon thereafter. He served as member of the Standard 34, Designation and Safety Classification of Refrigerants, committee in the early 1990s and also served as chair of the Standard 15 committee, Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems.

While remaining active in ASHRAE’s standards activities, especially internationally, Watson also has held several positions on the Society’s Board of Directors. He is past Society president-elect, treasurer, vice president and a director-at-large. Most recently, he served as chair of the committee that oversaw the Society’s rebranding rolled out in January 2012.

His past service includes chair, Members Council and Technology Council, President-Elect Advisory Committee, the Strategies for a Global Environment Ad Hoc Committee and the Advocacy Committee; and vice chair of the Vision 2020 Ad Hoc Committee. He also served as a member of the Advanced Energy Design Guide Steering Committee.

He has received the Standards Achievement Award and an Exceptional Service Award. Watson was awarded a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech in 1966 and a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University in 1969.