2026 Fee Award Recipient - Ronald Castro ’01

The Harold R. Fee 1920 Alumni Achievement Awards recognize and thank alumni who, through their engagement, have helped build a vibrant and supportive alumni community at Stevens. The 2026 Fee Awards will be bestowed to four deserving Stevens alumni at Alumni Weekend on June 6, 2026.

Ronald Castro ’01

Harold R. Fee 1920 Alumni Achievement Award

Ronald Castro ’01 was drawn to Stevens because of its strong reputation in the engineering world as well as its proximity to New York City’s financial and technology ecosystem. “I wanted an environment where technical rigor wasn’t just academic — it was directly connected to real-world application,” he says. “I also loved the campus. The environment just felt right.”

Castro’s Stevens memories go well beyond a deep dive into computer engineering coursework and caffeine-fueled, late-night grinds through problem sets that became debates about time travel, however.

“We had moments like the great Davis Hall flood during STEP,” he recalls, adding that the cause of the flood is still — supposedly — unknown. “There were dorm parties that rivaled New York City nightlife and fraternity-sponsored formals that had the best live music performances ever held in the Howe Center (Oro Solido! Oro who?!?). It was chaos, it was fun and it built friendships and problem-solving instincts that have stayed with me long after graduation.”

Founding the Alpha Alpha chapter of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc. was an important part of Castro’s Stevens experience. “We focused on building community and creating opportunities to educate and empower others,” he says, “both on campus and in Hoboken’s neighborhoods.”

Castro began his career as a network engineer with Knight Capital, moving through roles as a director of technology at A Capital and a consultant with Riptyde before joining BT Group, first as a project manager and then as a technical solutions consultant. Castro continued to gain experience and responsibility as a sales engineer with Corvil, as a tech ops lead – North America for J.P. Morgan and as an L3 network and instrumentation professional with Morgan Stanley. In 2021, Castro returned to J.P. Morgan where he is now global head of Network Operations and Instrumentation.

“Today, I lead global engineering teams at J.P. Morgan focused on site reliability engineering and high-precision instrumentation for trading infrastructure,” he explains. “At that scale, we’re supporting massive volumes of trades across global markets, and I get to see periods of intense volatility play out in real time.”

“What excites me most is working on highly complex technical problems at the edge of what’s physically possible, where nanoseconds matter,” Castro continues. “I also love leading a team of world-class engineers and helping channel that talent into solving these challenges. Motivated engineers can solve any problem.”

Castro credits Stevens with giving him a strong foundation in systems thinking and problem decomposition. “These are skills that are critical in complex, distributed environments like global trading platforms,” he points out. “More importantly, Stevens instilled a mindset of accountability and applied engineering — solving problems with measurable outcomes, not just theoretical correctness. That mindset has been a constant throughout my career.”

Castro stays engaged with his alma mater as much as possible through mentoring and having conversations with students and younger alumni, in particular those interested in infrastructure and trading systems. He encourages them to develop their ability to communicate clearly with tech-focused colleagues and non-technical stakeholders alike. “Technical skill gets you in the room, but clarity, judgment and business alignment are what move you forward,” he advises. “In addition, it is important to push yourself into challenging situations where expectations are high and outcomes matter. That’s where you develop the instincts that actually translate into career success.”

“And don’t underestimate the Stevens network,” Castro adds. “The relationships you build now and the alumni you connect with later will carry real weight. There’s a level of trust that comes with being part of this community, so build on it and contribute to it.”

“What stands out to me is that while the heart of Stevens will always be in Hoboken, the community extends far beyond campus,” Castro says. “I run into Stevens alumni all the time in my professional life, particularly in trading. There’s an immediate level of respect and trust when you realize you share that background. Those interactions are what continue to strengthen the network over time. I try to live up to that reputation and contribute to it in my own way.”

Castro believes that a Stevens education carries weight in a variety of ways. “We alumni make Stevens a lifelong network, not just a place you graduate from,” he says. “The impact really shows up in the real world where you run into other Stevens grads and there’s an immediate level of credibility and trust. It reinforces the reputation of the university and creates opportunities that wouldn’t exist otherwise. Over time, those connections compound alumni helping each other, sharing perspective and opening doors. That’s what continues to strengthen both the community and the value of a Stevens degree.”

Being selected to receive the Harold R. Fee 1920 Alumni Achievement Award has been incredibly meaningful for Castro. “This award reflects a long-term commitment to the Stevens community, both during my time as a student and as an alumnus,” he says. “What’s most rewarding is seeing what came after graduation, especially with regard to La Unidad Latina. The students and alumni who are carrying it forward have grown the impact far beyond what we initially built by expanding community service, deepening cultural engagement and strengthening the organization’s presence. They’ve truly amplified the foundation and they deserve the credit. This recognition reflects that collective, ongoing effort.”