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CORVALLIS - Jeffrey Peace, an Oregon State University engineering alumnus and the vice president and general manager of Boeing's 747 Program, will be honored on Friday, Nov. 1, as an OSU alumni fellow. He will give a presentation about how he has helped design and manufacture some of the world's largest and most recognizable airplanes.

During his 24-year tenure with the aircraft maker, Peace has worked on the Boeing 737 and 757, and was one of six chief project engineers who led development of the 777 series.

Peace's presentation, which is free and open to the public, begins at 1:15 p.m. in the Memorial Union Leadership Center. The alumni fellows awards ceremony begins at 3:15 p.m. in the CH2M HILL Alumni Center.

Today Peace leads the 3,500-person team responsible for the Boeing 747. First produced in 1968, the plane's signature hump-shaped fuselage is one of the most recognized shapes in the world. Boeing 747s sell for as much as $200 million and carry everything from the space shuttle to U.S. presidents.

Peace, who received his bachelor's degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from OSU in 1973, said he is pleased that his alma mater is in the midst of building a nationally ranked engineering program in Corvallis.

"It's the absolute correct way to go," he said. "The whole state of Oregon needs to look at how it can contribute to the nation and the world. The College of Engineering is at the heart of this because there are many unique and world-class capabilities at the college. The top-25 drive is an outstanding way to meet this goal."