Chevron’s Jim McGeehan announces retirement

James (Jim) McGeehan, a consulting scientist for Delo Heavy Duty engine oils, has announced his retirement from Chevron Products Co. after 39 years. His retirement will be effective on June 30, 2015.

McGeehan began his career with Chevron in 1976 as a research engineer in Chevron Research Company. During his tenure, he has served as the global manager of Diesel Engine Oil Technology and was responsible for all global heavy-duty engine oil development and coordinating all diesel engine programs for Chevron’s lubricants businesses. He led the team responsible for the successful development of Chevron Delo 400, which is now a global product.

He and his extended formulating team were recently honored by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for an Award for Research on Automotive Lubricants for the best technical paper related to the Adaption of Lubricants, Lubricated Automotive Systems or Components - SAE Paper 2012-01-1709 (published 2012) in April 2014.   

“I would like to thank Jim for his dedication, passion and many contributions and mentorship to our company, personnel and industry over the past four decades.  He has been a leader in our Lubricants Formulating Team and has set a high standard for all of us to follow into the future” said Brian Stripling, general manager brand, Technology & Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Chevron Products Company.

A member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the UK since 1971, McGeehan was appointed a SAE Fellow in 1989 and a Chevron Fellow in 2002. Over the past 20 years, he has trained Chevron marketers and new employees on benefits of Delo 400 technology. As a Chevron Fellow he has provided mentoring, including the development of skills for delivering technical presentations. He also served as Chairman of the ASTM Heavy-Duty Engine Oil Classification Panel since 1987, and he and his team have been responsible for establishing progressively improved Heavy Duty Motor oil categories that helped increase engine durability and reduce emissions. He successfully led the introduction of seven categories from API CE through CJ-4 and in 2002 was selected “Person of the Year” by Lubricants World Publication. He has also been involved in final development of the Proposed Category 11 (PC-11) requirements that license on December 1st, 2016. 

“Jim’s passion and visionary outlook for developing Chevron Heavy Duty Engine oils was key to elevating Chevron’s Delo Brand to a top tier category performer over the years and we are indebted to his efforts in developing Delo’s superb reputation,” said Leonard J. Badal, Jr, Chevron’s Global Commercial brands manager.

Shawn Whitacre will be replace McGeehan. Whitacre’s career spans nearly 20 years focused exclusively on research and engineering dealing with heavy-duty engine lubricants, fuels, and materials. Before joining Chevron in 2013, he spent 12 years leading global fluids and materials engineering activities for Cummins. He also spent five years conducting lubricant, fuel, and emission research for the Dept. of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO. At Chevron, he is a senior staff engineer primarily responsible for product formulation of the Delo Brand of Heavy Duty Engine Oils. He is currently the lead formulator responsible for development of Chevron’s PC-11 product line upgrade.