Distinguished Engineer
Hometown: Lake Norden
Mechanical Engineering,
Roland J. Jensen went on to earn an M.S. in industrial management from the University of Minnesota in 1963 after his graduation from South Dakota State College. His career began with Northern States Power Comp. (NSP) where he rose to senior vice-president of power supply. He was responsible for the engineering, construction and operation of NSP’s power plants, transmission lines and substations. Jensen developed a probability methodology for electric load growth forecasting which became the industry standard. He retired in 1994 as chairman and chief executive officer of NGR Energy, Inc., a builder, owner and operator of power plants worldwide. He was listed in "Who’s Who in Industry and Finance," "Who’s Who in Engineering," "Who’s Who in the Upper Midwest" and "Who’s Who in Technology Today" and was a member of many professional and honor societies. He was a registered professional engineer in the states of South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In 1993, he received the prestigious James N. Landis Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in recognition of his leadership in the electric power industry. He was selected as an SDSU Distinguished Alumnus for Outstanding Professional Achievement in 1996. His wife Deloris Mangels Jensen earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in 1954 and 1958 in home economics.