Texas Tech University

2010 Inductees

Brigadier General Charles Q. Brown, Jr.

Charles Q. Brown--earned his B.S.C.E. from Texas Tech University in 1984 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program. Since 1984, General Brown has had an illustrious career with the United States Air Force (USAF). In February 1985, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant and continued moving up in rank until his most recent promotion to Brigadier General in 2009. General Brown continued his education attending USAF Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada, and Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. In 1994, he earned his Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. General Brown has held various squadron and wing level positions during operational assignments to include instructing in the F-16 Division, USAF Weapons School. His staff tours include aide-de-camp to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, air operations officer, U.S. Central Command, and Deputy Chief, Program Integration Division, Directorate of Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He has served as a fighter squadron commander, Commandant of the USAF Weapons School, and Commander of the 8th Fighter Wing. General Brown is currently Commander, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy. The general commands the only permanently assigned U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft wing in NATO's Southern Region. The wing conducts and supports air combat operations and maintains munitions for NATO. The wing has approximately 4,200 active duty military members, nearly 300 U.S. civilian employees, and 600 Italian civilian employees. The wing's mission is driven by two combat-ready F-16C fighter squadrons and an air control squadron. Prior to his current assignment, General Brown was the Director, Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Executive Action Group, Headquarters U. S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. General Brown is a command pilot with more than 2,700 flying hours, including 81 combat hours. He is highly decorated receiving the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Aerial Achievement Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, and Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit (Samil Medal). He has one publication, "Developing Doctrine for the Future Joint Force: Creating Synergy and Minimizing Seams," Air University Press, September 2005. General Brown and his wife, Sharene, are currently stationed in Italy. They have two children, Sean and Ross.

David K. Harkins, Ph.D., P.E.

David K. Harkins--earned his BSPE in 1992 from Texas Tech University. After working as a field engineer in the oil industry for three years, David returned to Texas Tech in January 1995 and began graduate work in the Department of Civil Engineering. He earned his M.S.C.E. in 1995 and his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering in 1998. David taught several laboratory sections for undergraduate students and worked as a graduate research assistant on several water resource engineering projects during his graduate student days. He honed his skills in modeling of groundwater in his dissertation work funded by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Texas Tech Water Resources Center in which he converted the Texas High Plains groundwater model (Ogallala Aquifer) used by the TWDB to MODFLOW so that changes to allow for transmissibility and saturated thickness constraints could be accurately defined within the MODFLOW module packages. After graduation, David was employed in April 1998 as a staff engineer with Espey Consultants, Inc. (EC) in Austin. He was appointed Water Resources Managing Engineer in April 2000. He was promoted to Vice President and Managing Engineer of the water resources/environmental section of the firm in April 2002 and has continued in that position to this day. In over 12 years with EC, David has been involved in numerous projects as a team member, assistant project engineer, and project engineer for private developers, cities, counties, regional water districts, watershed districts, river authorities, state agencies, and various combinations of these groups who had an interest in a common water resource. These projects involving a variety of water resources and environmental engineering design and planning studies have dealt with modeling to determine the availability of surface and groundwater supplies, water quality and analysis modeling, wastewater permitting, water resources management, in-stream flow analysis, environmental flow analysis, sedimentation studies in lakes, bay and estuary evaluations, and groundwater management planning. David is a Registered Professional Engineer in the States of Texas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Water Works Association, and the Texas Water Conservation Association. David and his wife, Victoria, have two children, a son Christian (14) and a daughter, Christyn (10). They make their home in Austin, Texas. David is very active in his church, St. David's. He has been an usher and has helped in a mission that raises money for water systems in Malawi. David has coached basketball at the YMCA and WAYA (neighborhood youth organization), baseball at Oak Hill, and for the last three years coached soccer for Austin United Soccer. He volunteers at both children's schools serving as a Bear Dad and going to the school at lunch time to monitor the lunch room so that the teachers can have a peaceful meal. David and Victoria have judged local science fairs and serve on the young leaders committee for the Texas Water Conservation Association.

Victoria Ann Richards Harkins, Ph.D., P.E.

Victoria Ann Richards Harkins--earned her Bachelor's in Biochemistry in 1992 from Texas Tech University. During her senior year as an undergraduate, she began working in the Environmental Sciences Lab (ESL) of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering as a laboratory assistant. She quickly developed a strong interest in the application of her biochemistry in civil engineering. In January 1993, Victoria began her graduate degree in Civil Engineering which included a full suite of engineering leveling courses. Victoria earned her M.S.C.E. in 1995 and went on to complete her Ph.D. in 1998 both from Texas Tech. She continued her work throughout in the ESL and began teaching undergraduate courses in analytical methods and eventually taught classes in bioremediation. While completing her doctoral degree, Victoria taught as an adjunct professor for Lubbock Christian University in the Environmental Sciences Department. She taught several courses in solid waste and environmental law. After graduation, Victoria took an engineering position with the State of Texas. She quickly moved into a management position as senior engineer and was designated an expert in water and wastewater utility service. She testified as the state's witness numerous times and served as a legislative contact through two legislative sessions. In September 2002, Victoria took a project manager position with Espey Consultants, Inc. As a project manager she continued to work in the water and wastewater utility service field but began to redefine her skills to provide services for which her doctoral degree emphasized in environmental remediation. Victoria completed numerous small to multi-million dollar remediation projects for public and private clients. In January 2006, she created Harkins Engineering, Inc (HEI). Since its creation, HEI has been successful with continued water and wastewater utility service and remediation projects but has also developed a clientele of small municipalities for many facets of municipal engineering. Victoria is able to offer a hands-on and direct level interaction with small cities. Victoria's work has been as simple as a water rate review to the complex development and installation of a public water system with 50 year capital improvement planning. Victoria is a Registered Professional Engineer in the States of Texas and Oklahoma. She is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Victoria and her husband, David, live in Austin, Texas. They have a son, Christian (14), and a daughter, Christyn (10). Victoria is involved in her church and community. She has taught Children's Chapel, assists with a homeless feeding mission, and also helps with the mission to fund water systems in Malawi. She has coached basketball at the YMCA and was the only female baseball coach for many seasons for Oak Hill (neighborhood youth organization). She volunteers at both children's schools and has chaperoned school field trips to St. Louis, Atlanta, and most recently Indianapolis.

Joe King II, P.E., BCEE

Joe King II--earned his Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Engineering from Texas Tech University in 1975. While at Texas Tech, Joe joined the Tech Rodeo Association and participated in rodeos. Following graduation, Joe joined the staff of the Texas Water Rights Commission in Austin, Texas, as an engineer in its Water Rights Adjudication Section. After several years with the Commission and the Texas Water Development Board, Joe took a position with the consulting engineering firm of Freese and Nichols, eventually becoming its Austin Office Manager. Joe left Freese and Nichols and became the Dallas Office Manager and Texas Water Manager for Metcalf and Eddy and eventually became a Vice President with Turner, Collie and Braden. Joe is presently Vice President with AECOM and is its Regional Water/Wastewater Lead for the Southwest and Mountain Region, covering 15 states from Texas to Canada. AECOM is a 43,000 employee worldwide consulting engineering firm, covering all engineering disciplines. Joe has extensive experience in planning, design, project management, and quality control. His expertise lies in the areas of financing and quality control of water and wastewater planning, water treatment and transmission, and wastewater collection treatment and reuse systems. During his career, Joe has been actively involved in the 20,000 member Water Environment Federation, a worldwide water/wastewater professional organization, holding several offices in the state and national organizations, including President of the Water Environment Association of Texas and member of the Federation's Board of Directors. For his contributions, Joe has been awarded the Arthur Sydney Bedell Award in 1998 and the Golden Manhole Award in 2001. The American Academy of Environmental Engineers named Joe a Board Certified Environmental Engineer and included him in its Who's Who of Environmental Engineers. In June 2002, Joe attended and successfully completed a comprehensive training course in Risk Assessment Methodology for Water Systems (RAM-W) developed by Sandia National Laboratories. This training, coupled with his extensive experience in water systems, give him a unique perspective in identifying and addressing risks that utilities face today. Joe is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas and Oklahoma. He and his wife, Nancy, make their home in Arlington, Texas. They have two sons, Will and Clay. Outside of engineering, Joe's activities and interests include coaching select high school soccer for 18 years, playing golf, hunting, and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Most recently, Joe has added playing the guitar to his list of activities.

Kerry C. Miller, P.E.

Kerry C. Miller--earned his B.S.C.E. from Texas Tech University in 1984 and now has over 25 years of progressively responsible experience primarily in transportation applications. From 1985 to 1995, Kerry worked with the Dallas District of Texas Department of Transportation. He rose from EIT to the District Advance Project Development Engineer. In the final position, he supervised 24 engineers and technicians in development of rural and urban projects in the seven counties in the Dallas District. Projects included the $1 billion Trinity Parkway Major Investment Study, SH 161 Environmental Impact Study, conversion of SH 190 to a toll road, and design of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes along IH 35E, US 67, IH 635 and IH 30. From 1996 to 1999, Kerry served as the Lubbock Urban Area Engineer for the Lubbock District of TxDOT. In Lubbock, he led 25 engineers and technicians in project programming, schematic design, plan preparation, public involvement, contract administration, and materials testing. The primary project he and his team developed included the schematic and design plans for the Marsha Sharp Freeway and the Loop 289 intersection improvements at Indiana and Quaker Avenues in south Lubbock. Kerry earned community praise for his efforts to introduce more aesthetics into the constructed projects. In 1999, Kerry joined Parkhill, Smith and Cooper (PSC). He has been a corporate associate since 2000, serving as the Highway Transportation Sector Leader and Project Manager for highway projects in the Lubbock office of PSC. He oversees a team of nine designers and engineers. Over the past ten years, Kerry has been selected by TxDOT as a Project Manager responsible for the design of transportation projects in the Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, El Paso, Tyler, Bryan, Waco, Brownwood, Odessa, and Lubbock Districts. His key projects have included the Gateway Streets (total value over $100,000,000) in Lubbock, Weatherford Loop Study, US 87 Reliever Route for Lamesa, SH 155 in Anderson County, and IH 45 near Huntsville. Kerry has greatly increased PSC's ability to compete for and successfully complete TxDOT projects across the state. Kerry assists the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering by being available for presentations in transportation courses and ITE meetings. He also mentors EITs and part-time student workers at PSC. Kerry is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas. He and his wife, Lynn, have three children, Haley, Bradley, and Jarrod. They reside in Lubbock, Texas.

Audra N. Morse, Ph.D., P.E.

Audra N. Morse--graduated from the 5-year Master of Environmental Engineering Program offered by the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering at Texas Tech University in 1999, earning both a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and a Master of Environmental Engineering. In May 2003, she completed a Doctor of Philosophy from Texas Tech University. After graduating, Audra joined the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering (CECE) at Texas Tech as an Assistant Professor. In 2008, she was granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor in CECE. Her professional experience is focused on water and wastewater treatment, specifically water reclamation systems and the fate of personal products in treatment systems. She is part of a NASA research group investigating the fate of pharmaceuticals and hormones in bench scale wastewater treatment and evaluating the benefits of membrane-aerated biological reactors. Audra is the author and/or co-author of more than 17 published archival journal articles and in the last three years has participated in research with other collaborators with total funding over $6 million. Audra is very committed to the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering. Her service includes leading faculty search committees, assisting with freshman and transfer student orientation, serving as lead advisor for the J.H. Murdough ASCE Student Chapter, assisting in ABET report preparation, and leading the development of a departmental teaching handbook. Audra serves on a number of professional organization committees including the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Committee on Faculty Development, ASCE EWRI Health and Water Quality Committee, ASCE Texas Section VP Education Elect, and Deputy Trustee of Texas AWWA. She has also served in the ASCE Excellence in Civil Engineering Education (ExCECEd) Teaching Workshops during the last four summers as an assistant mentor or mentor. Audra's teaching, service, and research activities have resulted in many awards. She has received the Texas Tech Association of Parents Hemphill Wells New Professor Excellence in Teaching Award in 2006, the Texas Tech Alumni Association's New Faculty Award in 2006, College of Engineering Recipient, and the ExCECEd New Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award from ASCE National in 2006. She joined the TTU Teaching Academy in 2008. For her services to the ASCE Student Chapter, she was nominated by the students and received the ASCE Region 6 Faculty Advisor of the Year Award in 2007 and the ASCE Texas Section – Professional Service to Students Award in 2009. Audra was a recipient of the Whitacre Excellence in Research Award, Whitacre College of Engineering at TTU in 2009. Recently, she has been selected as the winner of the 2010 Chi Epsilon Excellence in Teaching Award for the Southwest District. On April 20, she will be recognized at the Faculty Honors Convocation as one of the recipients of the President's Excellence in Teaching Awards for 2010. Audra is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas. She is married to Dr. Stephen Morse, a fellow civil engineer and Texas Tech University graduate. They have one son, Braden (2) and are expecting their second child this spring.

Jeffrey G. Sipes

Jeffrey G. Sipes--earned his B.S.C.E. from Texas Tech University in 1989. Jeff has had a remarkable career in both Construction and Sales in Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (CB&I) since he joined the company as a field engineer after graduation. As an engineer trainee, Jeff progressed through the CB&I training program serving in various assignments in engineering, manufacturing, and as part of construction crews in various locations within the United States. As a project manager, Jeff has built a number of large projects in the US and in Venezuela. In sales, Jeff found his calling. In 2006, Jeff was appointed Director of Business Development. He was tasked with the pursuit of large capital projects in Latin America with a particular focus on turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction of hydrocarbon processing projects. Jeff negotiated various EPC Agreements varying in value from $20M USD to $3.0B USD. Jeff is currently serving as Group Vice President, Latin America Business Development. He leads CB&I's business development efforts in Latin American and the Caribbean. CB&I's Latin American business unit generates approximately $300M USD in annual new business in approximately 20 countries throughout the region. The principle focus of the Latin America business unit is the sale and execution of storage tanks and terminals for crude oil, refined petroleum products, and LNG. Jeff also has a very active life away from work. Jeff, an Eagle Scout, is very involved in his local community. He serves on the board of directors of Avenue Community Development Corporation, a non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing Houston's Washington Avenue, and Near Northside Community by developing affordable housing and economic opportunities, while preserving the area's economic, cultural, and historical diversity. Jeff serves as President of the United Methodist Men at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, and he is a United Methodist Certified Lay Speaker. He is a Life Loyal Member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and manager of the YMCA Baseball Giants. Jeff and his wife, Meredith (BS Physical Education, TTU '92) have four children, John (9), David (6), Rachel (4) and Charlie (1). The Sipes currently reside in Houston. Jeff has one other connection to TTU. He is the son-in-law of CECE retired faculty member, Dr. William Pennington "Penny" Vann.

Aubrey A. Spear III, P.E., CPSM

Aubrey A. Spear III--earned his B.S.C.E. from Texas Tech University in 1985. After graduation, Aubrey went to work for Parkhill, Smith and Cooper for two years. He decided to return to school enrolling in Brigham Young University. Aubrey earned his M.B.A. from the Marriott School of Management in Marketing and Strategic Planning in 1989. In 1990, he opened an environmental consulting office for ENRECO, Inc. in Lubbock. Three years later, Aubrey negotiated a buy-out of the office by Enprotec, Inc., a civil/environmental engineering firm. For 14 years, he managed the Lubbock office for Enprotec which included a merger with a sister company to become Enprotec/Hibbs & Todd. He also performed the duties of the Chief Marketing Officer for the regional firm. In June 2007, Aubrey accepted an opportunity presented to him to move into the public sector as Director of Water Utilities for the City of Lubbock. Several major infrastructure projects are his focus currently as the City seeks to add an additional water supply by building the infrastructure to convey and treat water from Lake Alan Henry. Aubrey's experience in both the private and public sector brings with it a unique perspective. His 24 years of professional engineering and business consulting experience includes handling complex water resource issues ranging from water rights issues to water supply planning to wastewater recycling to groundwater cleanup. Aubrey is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas and is a Certified Professional Service Marketer. His professional activities include serving on the Executive Board of the South Plains Council, Boy Scouts of America from 2009 – Present; Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, Water Conservation Council from 2007 – 2010; Texas Society of Professional Engineers, South Plains Chapter, President/Board from 2004 – 2010. He also serves as the bishop of a Young Single Adult congregation for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aubrey and his wife of 26 years, Donna, make their home here in Lubbock. They have three sons, Brey, Seth and Heath. All three have an interest in engineering — one mechanical engineer, another working on his B.S. in chemical engineering, and the third leaning toward a major in biomedical engineering. Aubrey enjoys traveling, hunting and spending time with his family.

Scott A. Verhines, P.E.

Scott A. Verhines--earned his B.S.C.E. from Texas Tech University in 1979, his M.S.C.E. from University of New Mexico in 1991, and his MBA from Anderson School of Management, University of New Mexico in 2002. Scott is a civil engineer with over 32 years experience focusing on water resources, transportation, and drainage/flood control projects. He has a strong background in water resources engineering from both a technical and practical standpoint. His undergraduate degree in civil engineering emphasized hydraulics and hydrology, and his Master's degree focused specifically on water resources. He has managed and participated in the preparation of over 200 hydrologic/hydraulic studies ranging in size from individual residential lots to over 500 sq. miles of watershed. Scott has planned and designed over 60 major transportation projects, including over 100 miles of rural highway and urban roadway projects. He has overseen the analysis and design of drainage/flood control infrastructure projects from $5000 to over $15 million in construction cost, transportation projects to over $30 million, and water supply projects to over $450 million. For the past seven years, Scott has devoted his professional talents to help New Mexico communities deal with the continuing decline of the Ogallala Aquifer groundwater supply. He serves as Program Manager for the $436 million regional rural water supply project that will provide municipal and commercial surface water supply from the Ute Reservoir to six communities and two counties in eastern New Mexico. In this capacity, Scott provides ongoing administrative, communication and coordination, agency liaison, consultant oversight, operations, and technical support to the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority (ENMRWA). He has presented testimony to the US Congress, Bureau of Reclamation, and the New Mexico Legislature as part of his responsibilities to aid in finding funding for this critical project. Scott is President of Occam Consulting Engineers, Inc. which was founded by a group of professionals who espouse to the principle of Occam's Razor, that the least complex solution to a problem is the best. As well, he is a principal in Occam Consulting Engineers which provides Professional Engineering, Planning, and Security services throughout the country and beyond. Scott is a Registered Professional Engineer in New Mexico. In 2000, Scott was recognized with the prestigious New Mexico Engineer of the Year Award from New Mexico Society of Professional Engineers (NMSPE). He is a member of American Society of Engineers and National Society of Professional Engineers. Scott and his wife, Cathy, make their home in Albuquerque. They have two children, Toby (29) and Katie (26), and one granddaughter, Camryn (5).

Department of Civil, Environmental, & Construction Engineering

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