CoE Dean Appointed To Army Science Board

-

Thomas Landers, dean of the College of Engineering, was recently appointed to the Army Science Board, a federal advisory committee that advises the secretary of the Army, the chief of staff of the Army, the assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition Logistics and Technology, and major Army commanders on a wide variety of scientific and technology matters.

The Army Science Board is composed of distinguished individuals from the private sector, academia and non-Department of Defense government agencies to ensure that diverse disciplines and points of view are represented. The broad mission of the board, which was chartered in 1977, enables it to obtain the expertise and counsel essential to the successful conduct of the Army’s acquisition, logistics and technology programs. Members participate in study groups on topics of high priority to the Army. Each study is of one to two years in duration.

Landers has served the OU College of Engineering as dean and AT&T Chair since October 2005. His research interests and expertise are in military and industrial logistics systems, including supply chain management, systems reliability and material handling. He has served on several government task forces, testified before Congressional committees, advised on intellectual property litigation, managed a high-technology startup company, and provided consultative services to over 40 private-and public-sector organizations. He holds two commercial software licenses for applications in logistics systems design and decision support.

Prior to joining the OU faculty, Landers taught in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Arkansas for more than 12 years and worked in industry for more than 10 years, with assignments ranging from development engineering in the aerospace industry to management consulting. He also has extensive experience in the auto industry, including partnerships with Japanese automakers in one of the first just-in-time and total-quality initiatives in the United States, and has traveled and studied manufacturing and logistics throughout Asia and Europe.

Landers joined OU in 1998 as Morris R. Pitman Professor and director of the School of Industrial Engineering. During his tenure at OU, he has founded several multi-campus and interdisciplinary research centers.

Popular posts from this blog

OU Engineering Students Shine in Community Projects

-
Image
At the University of Oklahoma, a transformative course called Pathways to Engineering Thinking is leaving a mark on OU students and the community. In the first-year engineering course, over 800 students across 16 sections collaborated to tackle real-world challenges presented by community partners. Their projects ranged from developing prosthetic limbs for injured animals to creating innovative solutions for community gardens and zoos. The course aims to guide students through the engineering design process, emphasizing collaborative teamwork and problem-solving skills.  This semester’s projects reached many areas of the community. Partnerships with the OU Food Pantry, OU Community Garden, Oklahoma City Zoo, OU Engineering K-12 Outreach, a local dog rescue and the City of Norman provided students with real-world challenges to address. Each team delved into issues presented by the partners, working toward delivering functional design solutions by the semester’s end. The heart of the cou
Read more

OU Students Take on Habitat Challenge: Sooners Without Borders Constructs Ramp, More in Iowa

-
Image
In early January, six students from Sooners Without Borders at the University of Oklahoma headed to Des Moines, Iowa, teaming up with Habitat for Humanity. Their goal: construct an accessibility ramp for a local family. Their mission was part of Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge program, providing year-round volunteer opportunities for college students. The students, all from the Gallogly College of Engineering at OU, embraced the challenge. Formerly Engineers Without Borders, Sooners Without Borders had changed its name to be more inclusive of all majors at OU, says Lisa Morales, the group's staff adviser. “A lot of projects used to focus on clean water and students had the opportunity to travel abroad. Once Covid happened, we had to shift the focus of Sooner Without Borders,” Morales said.  In Des Moines, the project expanded beyond the ramp, involving tasks like installing kitchen cabinets and flooring for a new home. Morales says she was impressed with the student’s adeptness with
Read more

OU Engineering Welcomes 14 New Faculty Members for 2023-24

-
Image
OU Engineering has welcomed 14 new faculty members for the 2023-24 academic year. This marks a milestone in the college's growth journey, with faculty numbers increasing from just over 100 in 2017 to 175 in 2023. OU Engineering is committed to expanding its faculty ranks, aiming for over 200 faculty members by the 2025-26 academic year, says OU Engineering Dean John Klier. To achieve this goal, the college has initiated more than 20 faculty searches. The State of Oklahoma continues to acknowledge the need for more engineers. They recently responded to OU Engineering’s request for additional recurring funding. The funding will play a crucial role in offering undergraduate student tuition waivers, supporting graduate students and helping recruit new faculty and staff. These positions will be phased in over the next three years. "OU Engineering extends its gratitude for the ongoing support from the State of Oklahoma as it continues to address the growing demand for engineers,&quo
Read more