Chevron’s Shawn Whitacre is new chairman of ASTM Heavy-Duty Engine Oil Classification Panel

Shawn Whitacre, senior staff engineer, engine oil technology, at Chevron Products Co., is the new chairman of the ASTM Heavy-Duty Engine Oil Classification Panel, succeeding Jim McGeehan who is retiring from Chevron after 39 years of service.

The ASTM panel is responsible for test development and setting limits for heavy-duty motor oil categories licensed by the American Petroleum Institute (API).

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, the world’s largest independent diesel engine supplier. He also spent five years conducting lubricant, fuel, and emission research for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo.

At Chevron, he is 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. He is based in Richmond, Calif., U.S.A.

Whitacre graduated with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering in 1995 and a Masters of Science, Chemical Engineering in 1996 from the University of Dayton.

He has been an active participant within ASTM’s Heavy-Duty Engine Oil Classification Panel and has published several SAE papers focused on lubricant, diesel fuel, and their impact on emission control system performance and durability. He holds multiple patents covering lubricant and diesel engine technology.