Paul Bechly


Paul Lorin Bechly is an American chemical engineer noted for leadership in development of an environmentally responsible perfluorocarbon gas policy for DuPont and allied industries.

Education

Bechly graduated in 1980 from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. After transitioning to the financial industry in 1993, Bechly earned his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2000, a Master of Science in Financial Services from The American College in 2008, and a Doctor of Business Administration from Wilmington University in 2018.

Career

Bechly worked within the fluorochemicals business of DuPont from 1980 to 1993 at locations including Corpus Christi, TX; Deepwater, NJ; Montague, MI; Atlanta, GA; Walnut Creek, CA; and Wilmington, DE. As a chemical engineer, he served DuPont in roles including R&D, engineering, distribution, sales, marketing, product management, and production. Based upon his research activities at DuPont, he has been elected to full membership at Sigma Xi.
Bechly joined the Wilmington, Delaware office of Dean Witter in 1993. As of 2020, he is an active member of the financial industry in Greenville, Delaware, and a Governance Fellow with the National Association of Corporate Directors. Bechly conducts private independent research through Azeas Consulting, and is a member of the American Finance Association, the CFA Institute, and the National Association for Business Economics.

Perfluorocarbon gas issue

Bechly was awarded the DuPont Chemicals Environmental Excellence Award in 1992 for "Leadership in the Development of an Environmentally Responsible Perfluorocarbons Policy for DuPont". Perfluorocarbon gases are anthropogenic and have high global warming potential combined with long atmospheric lifetimes. Bechly led a team of scientists to study and provide data on sources of these greenhouse gases, their atmospheric effects, and options for control. Through roundtable discussions, he was able to process this highly complex issue into an environmentally sound policy. Bechly's efforts enabled inter-industry understanding of this global issue, which led to consensus among allied industries to proactively develop responsible environmental policies regarding these chemicals. His professional works are maintained by the Hagley Museum and Library in Delaware.
In recognition of his work at DuPont on the Perfluorocarbon Gas Issue, Dr. Bechly was selected as the 2020 recipient of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation "Intellectual Benefits to Society Award".