Penny Wirsing, F.SWE, has had a noteworthy career in environmental regulatory compliance in the oil and gas industry, from Exxon Mobil Corporation, a major integrated oil company, to PBF Energy, a merchant refining company. She is currently an environmental manager for the Torrance Refining Company LLC in Southern California. She manages a team of environmental engineers responsible for ensuring the refinery’s compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. As a single mother, Wirsing earned her B.S. in civil engineering with honors from Michigan State University and obtained her MBA from the University of Washington.
Since she was a colleague at Michigan State, an engaged member of SWE, Wirsing became a life member in 1990. She has held numerous leadership roles at the local, region, and Society levels, leading several task forces and serving as Society treasurer and director of strategic initiatives. She was recognized for her accomplishments by SWE in 2007 when she became a SWE Fellow. In 2015, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Michigan State University College of Civil Engineering.
Wirsing is involved in her community, serving on the board of directors for Pediatric Therapy Network, a nonprofit organization that provides services to children with special needs. She is a member of Soroptimist International, an international volunteer organization of business and professional women whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls throughout the world. Wirsing lives in Redondo Beach, California, with her husband, Rick, and both are active members of the American Homebrewers Association.
