Staff Directory

Texas A&M University Research Park Campus
Richard Mercier	Director and Professor	rsmercier@tamu.edu 979-845-7252
Dr. Mercier has been OTRC's director since 2001. He is responsible for the management of all wave basin projects and oversees the OTRC research program. Rick is a professor in the Ocean Engineering Department at Texas A&M University.
E. G. (Skip) Ward	Associate Director	egward@otrc.tamu.edu 979-862-2288
Dr. Ward is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has been with OTRC since 1998. Skip serves as an interface with program sponsors and industry at large to identify research needs and interests and acts as a champion for OTRC activities and initiatives.
Debbie Oakes	Sr. Administrative Coordinator	djoakes@otrc.tamu.edu 979-845-4874
Debbie has been with OTRC since 2002. She is OTRC's business manager and functions as liaison between research sponsors, project PI's, the Center, and TEES to insure timely and accurate execution of administrative tasks related to project management.
Chris Felderhoff	Wave Basin Manager	cfelderhoff@otrc.tamu.edu 979-845-4424
Chris has been with OTRC since 1993. In addition to managing the basin facility and its maintenance and operations, he supervises and coordinates a team of undergraduate students in the design, fabrication, installation, and proper operation of equipment in the model basin. Chris is responsible for the management of the diving staff.
Drew Dunlap	Research Instrumentation Specialist	ddunlap@otrc.tamu.edu 979-847-9015
Drew has been with OTRC since 1994. He manages the electronics shop and oversees operations in the control room during model testing. Drew is responsible for the installation, calibration, operation, maintenance, trouble-shooting and repair of research and academic instrumentation.
Jared Scoggins	Electronics Technician II	jscoggins@otrc.tamu.edu 979-458-0535
Jared has been with OTRC since June 2008. He assists in the control room during model testing and is responsible for the installation, operation, maintenance and repair of a variety of electronic equipment used for OTRC operations activities.
Phillip Shillings	Wave Basin Technician	pshillings@otrc.tamu.edu 979-847-9016
Phillip has been with OTRC since 2009. He is responsible for the fabrication, installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of machinery, models, and equipment in the wave basin and laboratory facility. Phillip also assists with coordination and supervision of OTRC divers.
Carolyn Sims	Accounting Assistant III	csims@otrc.tamu.edu 979-847-9001
Carolyn has been with OTRC since 1989. As part of OTRC's administrative staff, Carolyn if responsible for the management of accounts payable, purchasing and travel.
Cindy Wilson	Office Associate	cwilson@otrc.tamu.edu 979-847-8972
Cindy has been with OTRC since 2000. In addition to providing staff support, Cindy serves as OTRC's hospitality ambassador, and is responsible for the coordination of staff and client meetings and events.
University of Texas at Austin Campus
Spyros A. Kinnas	Associate Director and Professor	kinnas@mail.utexas.edu 512-475-7969
Dr. Kinnas has been OTRC's Associate Director since 2001. He is responsible for the oversight of the OTRC research program on the University of Texas at Austin campus. Spyros is also the Hudson Matlock Professor in Civil Engineering. He specializes in numerical modeling of separated, cavitating, and propulsor flows.
Sandra Vasquez	Administrative Associate	vasquezs@mail.utexas.edu 512-471-3753
Sandra has been with OTRC since 2008. She provides administrative support for the PI's on the UT Campus and facilitates OTRC's business transactions between TEES and UT.