Dr. Kermitt Walrond stands as one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most accomplished petroleum engineers and a true exemplar of Royalian excellence. His academic and professional achievements reach across continents, disciplines, and decades, reflecting a rich commitment to innovation, education, and national development. A graduate of Queen’s Royal College, Dr. Walrond laid here the intellectual foundation for a career that would propel him to the lofty heights of the international energy sector.
He earned a BSc (Honours) in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom in 1962, followed by a master’s degree and PhD also in Petroleum Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Early in his career, he held engineering and operations management functions at British Petroleum (Trinidad) Ltd before joining Shell Development Company’s research laboratory in Houston for five years. These formative experiences laid a robust foundation in both field and research-based engineering.
Dr. Walrond’s distinguished twenty-eight-year career with British Petroleum and Amoco saw him elevate through numerous senior management positions in exploration and production. Before retiring, he served a term as Vice President, Production & Transportation for BP’s Caspian operations in Azerbaijan and Georgia — regions critical to global energy supply. His leadership was instrumental in overseeing strategic production and infrastructure development across this complex and geopolitically significant area.
Beyond the corporate sphere, Dr. Walrond made vital contributions to education and national development. He collaborated with Professor Percy Bruce in establishing the Petroleum Engineering School at The University of the West Indies and served as Special Advisor both to the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Technology and the Energy Centre of the University of Trinidad & Tobago. He led workshops in upstream petroleum contracts and negotiation skills for the International Human Resource Development Corporation in Boston, USA.
Dr. Walrond has long been active in professional societies as well. He was the founding Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), served as a Distinguished Lecturer (1988–89), and was elected a Distinguished Member of the Society in 1991. He served two years as a director of the SPE’s Gulf Coast Section and was named a Centennial Fellow and Alumni Fellow by Pennsylvania State University in 1996 and 1997, respectively. In 2009, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago awarded him its Centennial Award in International Relations.
The Queen’s Royal College Old Boys’ Association proudly salutes Hall of Honour Inductee Dr. Kermitt Walrond for his global impact, academic excellence, and dedication to national development.