Donald E. Garrett received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his graduate degrees from Ohio State University. He has worked as an engineer for many large companies and as a professor at several universities. Garrett has had over 200 technical papers published, and has rights to more than 200 patents. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Ohio State University, the Distinguished Achievement Award from Chemical Engineering Magazine, and a three-time recipient of the Kirkpatrick Award for best new chemical process of two-year period. He was named Chemical Engineer of the Year by AIChE., Los Angeles. He has been a member of the Department of the Interior Technical Review Committee, the University of California Engineering Advisory Committee, and the Ohio State University Advisory Committee.