The Inter-American Dialogue mourns the loss of William Friend, who died of Covid-19 complications at the age of 86 on January 27, 2021. Friend was a member of the Dialogue from 1997 to 2009 and a strong supporter of its mission.

Friend was highly influential chemical engineer and the former president of Bechtel. He also served as chairman of University of California’s President’s Council, treasurer of the National Academy of Engineering, and chairman of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. Friend was awarded a medal of distinction from the University of Delaware and and an honorary doctorate of engineering from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, now part of New York University and renamed Tandon School of Engineering.

Read his full tribute here.