OU Engineering

BY MICHAEL KIMBALL mkimball@opubco.com Oklahoman Published: December 24, 2011 Oklahoma City has hired David Todd, the owner of a local engineering firm and a former city employee, to be the new leader of its MAPS office and the point man for the MAPS 3 projects. Todd, who recently sold Todd Engineering Inc., so he can take the new position with the city, replaces Eric Wenger, who was promoted to be the city's Public Works Director in August. Todd said the opportunity to contribute to public works projects that are designed to end up as signature elements of a growing Oklahoma City was what attracted him to the position. “I was raised here in Oklahoma City. I really care about what's happening in Oklahoma City, and I want to be a part of it,” Todd said. “It's a really exciting time.” Todd graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. He is on the board of directors of the South Oklahoma City Chamber, is a membe

CNI announces new leadership 12/21/2011 9:18:43 AM By STAFF REPORTS TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee Nation Industries, the manufacturing and distribution division of Cherokee Nation Businesses, announced the promotions of Brian Morris to vice president of engineering and Don Whittington to vice president of operations for the company’s aerospace and defense division. Morris, a Cherokee Nation citizen, graduated from Fort Gibson High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1995. Prior to graduation, he worked as an engineering intern at CNI providing manufacturing solutions and cost savings measures. Morris has held the titles of planning manager, operations manager and director of manufacturing while being responsible for the engineering, quality, testing, purchasing, inventory and production departments. Whittington, also a CN citizen, was born in Ventura, Calif. He is a Marine Corps veteran of 10 years and has more tha

J. Lynn Helms, left, head of the Federal Aviation Administration, confers with Transportation Secretary Drew Lewis in June 1981 during the dispute between the FAA and the air traffic controllers union. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associate Press / January 17, 1981) By Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times December 20, 2011 J. Lynn Helms, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration who carried out President Reagan's order to fire more than 11,000 striking air traffic controllers and oversaw efforts to keep airlines flying during the crisis, has died. He was 86. He died Dec. 11 of cardiopulmonary failure at his home in Westport, Conn., a family spokesman said. Helms had a reputation as a decisive, technically brilliant aviation industry executive who led a number of companies out of financial straits, including Piper Aircraft, which he ran for six years. A former test pilot, he was the first FAA chief in a decade capable of designing an airplane that could fly. Several months into

SME Education Foundation selects Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., as one of six in nation for community-based approach to manufacturing education. . DEARBORN, Mich., OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., November 22, 2011 — The SME Education Foundation is taking a community-based approach to manufacturing education and creating strong partnerships between exemplary schools, businesses and organizations. Francis Tuttle Technology Center (FTTC), Oklahoma City, Okla., is an acknowledged leader for providing exceptional career and technology education to high school students and adults, as well as customized training for business and industry. It is one of six exemplary schools in the nation selected for the first phase of a new initiative, PRIME (Partnership Response in Manufacturing Education) launched in the fall of 2011. Other PRIME exemplary schools include: Kettering Fairmont High School, Dayton, Ohio; Walker Career Center, Indianapolis, Ind.; Summit Technology Academy, L

A drone takes to the air as students from middle and high schools compete with flying drones at the University of Oklahoma's Rawl Engineering Practice Facility in Norman, OK, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. By Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman Student robotics teams from four states traveled Saturday to the University of Oklahoma in Norman to compete with autonomous flying drones. BY MEGAN ROLLAND, mrolland@opubco.com Oklahoman Published: December 4, 2011 NORMAN — Educators have been using robots for years to get students interested in math, engineering and science at an early age, but one robotics program is taking the game to new heights. The Kiss Institute for Practical Robotics rolled out its newest model on Saturday, an autonomous flying drone that students can fly around a classroom, through their halls and outside; all controlled by student-developed programming. “We teach about 8,000 kids around the world how to program and build autonomous ground robots and they think that

December 02, 2011 | Targeted News Service DES PLAINES, Ill., Dec. 1 -- The American Society of Safety Engineers issued the following news release: The American Society of Safety Engineers' (ASSE) Women in Safety Engineering (WISE) Common Interest Group has honored Fairmont Specialty Group'sMary Silva, CSP, of Mililani, HI, for making a difference in the safety, health and environmental (SH&E) field as part of the WISE '100 Women, Making a Difference in Safety' project. Women from around the world and throughout history have been honored for their dedication to protecting people, property and the environment and for going above and beyond to make a difference. Silva has been an active member of the safety, health and environmental (SH&E) field for more than 20 years. Last spring she joined Fairmont Specialty Group, which provides specialty niche property and accident, health insurance and surety products, as their Senior Loss Control Specialist. In additi