The Department of Aerospace Engineering in the Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University inducted nine alumni into the Aerospace Engineering Distinguished Alumni Academy April 30 during the Aerospace Engineering Annual Awards Banquet.
Receiving the Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Award were David W. Lund ’79, Merri J. Sanchez, PhD, '85, and Michael L. Slack ’73. This award is presented to an alumnus 40 years or older who has proven superior professional achievement, community service and service to the university. These persons are role models for all to follow, and their example of distinguished professional practice deserves recognition.
David W. Lund '79
A 1979 graduate of Texas A&M University in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, David Lund has over 30 years’ experience in research, technology transition and education. He has a track record of delivering results working for NASA, AIAA, small business, Boeing and academia (Texas A&M and University of Kansas). He has made contributions in unconventional aircraft configurations, laminar flow, advanced materials & structures, supersonic transports, and advanced systems. His expertise is sought by proposal red teams, aerospace instructors, non-advocate boards, government panels, audit teams and strategic planning groups. Lund currently serves on the Aerospace Engineering External Advisory Board for the Department of Aerospace Engineering.
Merri J. Sanchez, PhD, '85
Upon graduation from Texas A&M University, Dr. Merri Sanchez went to work at NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. She was selected to the NASA Senior Executive Service in 2009. Sanchez joined Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space System’s Group as the Senior Director for Space Exploration Systems in July 2010, where she manages the Dream Chaser Program, a lifting-body design of a commercial human spacecraft. Dr. Sanchez has distinguished herself through over 30 years of service as an aerospace engineer in service to our nation’s space program. With roles as Space Shuttle integration test engineer, X-38 spacecraft deputy project manager, Space Station increment manager, NASA executive liaison to the U.S. Air Force, and manager of a team building a human spacecraft for NASA, she is recognized for her superior achievement and service to the aerospace profession. Sanchez currently serves on the Aerospace Engineering External Advisory Board for the Department of Aerospace Engineering.
Michael L. Slack, ‘73
Michael Slack, a 1973 graduate of Texas A&M in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, focuses on the most challenging and demanding areas of civil litigation, including aviation law and products liability. He is co-founder and manager of Slack & Davis, LLC. Mr. Slack’s aviation law experience includes more than 29 years of litigation arising from air crashes. In addition, he has received national media attention as an advocate for stronger federal oversight to improve air ambulance safety. Prior to his legal career, Mr. Slack was senior aerospace engineer with NASA in Houston, working on the Apollo-Soyuz and Space Shuttle Programs. NASA awarded him special commendations for his contributions. Slack currently serves on the Aerospace Engineering External Advisory Board for the Department of Aerospace Engineering.
The Aerospace Engineering Honorary Engineer Award is presented to non-Texas A&M University Aerospace Engineering alumni who have made major contributions to the engineering profession and whose support of the Texas A&M Aerospace Engineering Department merits recognition. The two honorees given this distinction were Keith Ferris and Thomas Uriel McElmurry, Lt. Col USAF (Ret).
Keith Ferris
Flight has changed our perception of the world, and Keith Ferris has changed our perception of the world of aviation in his paintings. During his time as a student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Ferris went to war and never re-enrolled in school. Not able to pursue his lifelong dream of being a pilot, he turned to his other passion, art. In 1960, Ferris became a member of the Society of Illustrators. This New York professional artist society brought flying into focus and allowed Ferris to get back to the “excitement and dedication that is the United States Air Force.” Through this program, artists were able to fly missions anywhere in the world in exchange for donating their time and talents - to the art collection. The Air Force Art Collection now contains over 5,600 paintings and other works donated by more than 900 participating artists. Ferris has over 21 in the Collection at present.
Thomas Uriel McElmurry, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret)
Thomas McElmurry is recognized for his achievements during his exceptional careers in the military, industry and academia. McElmurry began his lifelong passion for flying in the Army Air Corp, which later became the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force he was a test pilot, and later the Operations Officer at Edwards Air Force Base Test Pilot School. McElmurry, along with such well known individuals as Frank Borman, Buck Buchanan, and Jim McDivitt developed the training curriculum for the Air Force’s first Aerospace Research Pilot program, and were among its first graduating class. McElmurry retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel, and then joined NASA, where he held many roles, including Chief of Flight Crew Operations in the Office of Manned Space Flight in Washington, D.C., and Chief, Orbiter Atmospheric Flight Test Office, Director of Flight Crew Operations working on SkyLab at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. After retiring from NASA, McElmurry became an Associate Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University where he taught for 13 years.
Four alumni were honored with the highest honor in the academy, the Distinguished Aerospace Engineering Alumni award. This award is presented to an alumnus who is retired or near retirement with outstanding career records. This award recognizes sustained and meritorious contributions to engineering and engineering management. The four honorees were Norman “Ken” Dyson ’60, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret), Mark A. Fischer ’72, Gerald “Gerry” D. Griffin ’56 and Walter E. Haisler, Jr, PhD, '67.
Norman “Ken” Dyson ’60, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret)
After graduating first in his class from the Department of Aerospace Engineering in 1960, Dyson went into flight training for the Air Force, and was the top graduate in his class. After four years as a fighter pilot, Dyson attended the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School prior to testing weapons in the F-100, F-101 and F-4 aircraft. He flew the F-100 and F-4 aircraft in the Vietnam War before returning to Edwards AFB as an instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School and later as an F-15 test pilot and Director of the F-15 Joint Test Force. He began classified work in 1976, where he flight tested Have Blue and Tacit Blue until 1982.
After Air Force retirement, Dyson joined Rockwell and flew throughout the B-1B test program. He flew the first flight of the X-31 Post Stall Aircraft in 1990 and flew the X-31 through its early testing. He retired from Rockwell as Chief Test Pilot and Director of Flight Test in 1993.
Dyson was awarded the Kincheloe Award in 1989 for test flying Have Blue and in 1996 for Tacit Blue after these programs were declassified. He has also received the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, nine Air Medals and Aviation Week & Space Technology’s Aerospace Laurels. Dyson is an Engineering Fellow of the University of Alabama, a Distinguished Alumnus of the USAF Test Pilot School and was named to the Aerospace Walk of Honor in 1997.
Mark A. Fischer ‘72
A 1972 graduate of the Department of Aerospace Engineering with honors, Fischer began his career with Humble Oil Company, now Exxon Company USA. In 1988, Fischer founded Chaparral Energy, Inc. as a privately held independent oil and gas product and exploration company with headquarters in Oklahoma City. He has served as its chairman, chief executive officer and president since its inception.
Fischer is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the American Petroleum Institute and has served as a director of the API from 1984-1986. In 2012, Fischer was a national finalist for the Ernest and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He sits on several non-profit organization boards including the Boy Scouts of America and he is currently serving on the Dwight Look College of Engineering Advisory Council and the board of the Association of Former Students for Texas A&M.
Gerald “Gerry” D. Griffin ‘56
A 1956 graduate from the Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Gerry Griffin is the former Director of the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston. In prior positions at NASA, he served as the Deputy Director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the Hugh F. Dryden Flight Research Center in California.
Griffin laid the foundations for America’s space shuttle and space station programs. During NASA’s Apollo Program, he was a Flight Director in Mission Control and served in this capacity for all of the Apollo manned missions. He was Lead Flight Director for three lunar landing Missions: Apollo’s 12, 15 and 17. During the flight of Apollo 13, Griffin was scheduled to lead the lunar landing team in Mission Control. When the landing was canceled as a result of the oxygen tank explosion, he led one of the teams of flight controllers who were responsible for the safe return of the astronauts.
Today Mr. Griffin is Chairman of the Board of the Golden Spike Company (GSC), a Delaware Corporation headquartered in Boulder, CO. GSC is a commercial space company planning human lunar expeditions.
Griffin is the recipient of the Texas A&M Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor Award, the Texas A&M College of Engineering Alumni Honor Award, and he is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the American Astronautical Society.
Walter E. Haisler, Jr ’67, PhD
For over 41 years, Dr. Walter Haisler has been an outstanding and dedicated teacher, an internationally recognized researcher, and a willing provider of meritorious service to the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University, and to the aerospace community. Dr. Haisler received his BS, MS and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1967, 1968 and 1970, respectively, and joined the faculty in September 1970.
Dr. Haisler is recognized by current and former students and faculty alike as an outstanding teacher and as one who considers teaching and education as the most important function of faculty at the university. He has earned a number of faculty and teaching awards including two student awards, four college awards and the university-level Texas A&M University Former Students Award for Excellence in Teaching. At the national level he has received the AIAA/ASEE Atwood Aerospace Engineering Education Award.
Haisler’s research is internationally recognized and he has over 100 publications and technical reports and 40+ conference presentations. He has mentored approximately 25 masters and ten Ph.D. graduates, and has served on numerous graduate student committees both within and outside of the department. He has also served on several NASA and DOD peer review committees and as a consultant to industry in his research areas.
In recognition of his contributions and service, Dr. Haisler was awarded The Charles W. Crawford Service Award in 2001, the Dwight Look College of Engineering Faculty Fellow Award in 2004, and the Charles W. Crawford Service Award again in 2007. He was named an Associate Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1987, a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1985 and a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society in 1986. He was selected as a TEES Research Fellow for 1982-83, 1983-1984 and then as Senior TEES Research Fellow in 1984. In addition, he was the Halliburton Professor of Aerospace Engineering for 1984-85.