Texas A&M University Research Park Campus
Richard Mercier
Director and Professor
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.
Debbie Oakes
Sr. Administrative Coordinator I
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
Reasearch Engineering Associate III
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.
Jared Scoggins
Reasearch Engineering Associate III
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.
University of Texas at Austin Campus
Spyros A. Kinnas
Associate Director and Professor
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.
Selina Keilani
Chief Business Officer
Selina provides administrative support for the PI’s on the UT Campus and facilitates OTRC’s business transactions between TEES and UT.
