For immediate release
San Antonio — Feb. 23, 2015 — Nearly 200 board members, advisory trustees, and invited guests got an up-close look today at some cutting-edge science and technology projects underway during Southwest Research Institute’s (SwRI) 67th Annual Trustees Meeting. In his first annual meeting since taking the helm as only the fourth president in 67 years at the independent research and development organization, Adam L. Hamilton, P.E., welcomed the Institute dignitaries.
While the Institute conducts more than 4,000 projects during a typical year, just six of those projects were detailed in presentations designed to keep trustees up-to-date on some of SwRI’s most groundbreaking research currently underway. Highlighted programs include the New Horizons mission, which completes its historic nine-year space journey to Pluto this summer; a new space mission to study magnetic reconnection, a universal force of nature; a new consortium to address engine pre-ignition, a vexing problem for modern engines; accelerating the development of antidotes to chemical and biological threats; re-assessing nuclear power plant safety after a record tsunami damaged the Japanese Fukushima nuclear power plant; and detecting current and future threats to air transportation security.
Hamilton also announced that Dr. Ricardo Romo and Milton B. Lee were re-elected to chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of SwRI’s Board of Directors. Romo, president of The University of Texas at San Antonio, became an SwRI Board member in 2006 and was Board vice chairman from 2011-2013. Lee is the retired general manager and CEO of CPS Energy, San Antonio. He became a Board member in 2006.
Hamilton also announced the election of five trustees: Dr. Katherine Banks, P.E., vice chancellor and dean of Engineering at Texas A&M University; David Biegler, chairman, Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC; Dr. JoAnn Browning, dean, College of Engineering at The University of Texas at San Antonio; Dr. Alfred Coats, managing partner of AlphaQuest Consulting; and Robert Garrison, executive vice president and general manager of the San Antonio Division of EOG Resources.
The re-election of Institute officers was also announced. In addition to Hamilton as president, SwRI officers include: Walter D. Downing, executive vice president; Beth Ann Rafferty, CFO, vice president-finance, and Institute secretary; Linda M. Boehme, treasurer and assistant Institute secretary; and John W. McLeod, vice president and general counsel.
Also re-elected are Vice Presidents Kenneth H. Bennett, Applied Physics; Dr. James L. Burch, Space Science and Engineering; Bruce B. Bykowski, Engine, Emissions, and Vehicle Research; Susan B. Crumrine, Automation and Data Systems; Danny M. Deffenbaugh, Mechanical Engineering; Paul Easley, Facilities and Services; Dr. Michael G. MacNaughton, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering; Steven D. Marty, Fuels and Lubricants Research; Mary C. Massey, Applied Power; Dr. Wesley C. Patrick, Geosciences and Engineering; and Nils Smith, Signal Exploitation and Geolocation.
For more information, contact Deb Schmid, +1 210 522 2254, Communications Department, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238-5166.