90th Birthday Celebration for PhD Prof. Eng. Niculae Napoleon Antonescu
On October 22, the academic community of the Petroleum-Gas University (PGU) of Ploiesti celebrated a personality who marked the development of the Romanian oil industry and contributed to the progress of science and technical education in Romania. The person celebrated today is the venerable Professor and Honorary Rector Niculae Napoleon Antonescu, on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
The event took place during a festive meeting of the Senate chaired by PhD Associate Professor Eng. Habil. Aurelia Patrascu, as President of the University Senate, in the presence of the Rector of the University, PhD Associate Professor Eng. Alin Dinita.
“Professor Antonescu is not just an illustrious name, but an institution in itself, a source of continuous inspiration for generations of engineers, researchers and academics. His multi-faceted personality dominated key areas such as petroleum and petrochemical machinery, oil and gas engineering, demonstrating a rare competence and a passion for knowledge that defined his entire career,” said the President of the University Senate of PGU Ploiesti.
As an accomplished professional in the field of oil and gas, Professor Antonescu had a remarkable scientific and teaching activity. Under his guidance, the Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti has enjoyed a period of expansion and prestige, attracting students and teachers of value and consolidating itself as a landmark in technical and scientific education.
As Rector, he showed impressive vision and leadership qualities rarely seen. He has managed, in a period of transformations and challenges, to lead the university with a steady hand but also with an open heart, always with the good of the academic community and its future in mind. Under his leadership, the Petroleum-Gas University has become a model of academic excellence and a reference centre for research and development in the energy fields.
But beyond his professional achievements, what defines the distinguished Professor Antonescu is his openness, empathy and care for others. His generous spirit, his desire to support and inspire young people, and the modesty with which he has worn all his titles and distinctions, make him a role model not only in his career, but also in life.
Professor Niculae Napoleon Antonescu was honoured by colleagues and teachers from all five faculties of the university. To summarize, epithets regarding humanity (a word established and adored by the current rector, Alin Dinita), honesty, fairness, punctuality, respect for others, love and respect for work at any stage of life, in a word, humanism in all its manifestations have been sealed on his notoriety…
Also, this year, on June 27, the Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti conferred five honorary titles of Professor Emeritus to PhD Prof. Eng. Niculae Napoleon Antonescu – Honorary Rector, PhD Prof. Eng. Lazar Avram, PhD Prof. Eng. Ion Bolocan, PhD Prof. Ec. Cornel Constantin Lazar and PhD Assoc. Prof. Cristian Marinoiu. These distinctions were conferred as a tribute to the personalities of the aforementioned persons, who, with dedication and wisdom, have contributed to the prestige of PGU Ploiesti in the field of university education and scientific research.
Prof. Niculae Napoleon Antonescu has had a successful academic career, so that after obtaining the title of ‘Mechanical Petroleum Engineer’ in 1957, and that of ‘Doctor of Engineering’ in 1970, he has climbed all university leadership positions, starting from member of the Council of the Faculty of Petroleum Equipment (1965-2004), member of the Senate and of the Executive Board of Directors (1968-2004), Dean of the Faculty of Petroleum Machinery – currently the Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (1972-1979), Prorector of the Institute of Oil and Gas Ploiesti – currently the Petroleum-Gas University (PGU) of Ploiesti (1979-1987), Head of Department at the Department of Technology of Petroleum Machinery Construction (1990-1992), Rector of PGU (1996-2004) and ending with the position of Honorary Rector of PGU (2005-present). In addition to these university leadership positions, Prof. Antonescu is a founding member of the National Council of Rectors (since 1996), was a Member of the Romanian Parliament (1996-2004) and has held and holds a number of high positions in various national associations and councils, such as Honorary Member of the Romanian National Committee for the World Energy Council (RNC-WEC). His outstanding merits have been recognized by a series of national and international distinctions such as the Order of the ‘Star of Romania’ in the Grade of Knight obtained in 1999.
Happy Birthday, dear Professor Niculae Napoleon Antonescu!
