Distinguished Engineer 2020

Scott Clark, Ph.D., P.E.

Degree

B.S. Computer Science, Texas Tech University - 2002
B.S. Electrical Engineering, Texas Tech University - 2002
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Texas Tech University - 2016

 

"Dr. Clark's technical and managerial accomplishments, complemented by his civic engagement make him an excellent candidate and most worthy ambassador for the WCOE Distinguished Engineering program". – Dr. Michael Giesselmann, Department Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Citation

At Time of Nomination in 2020

Dr. Scott Clark, a Lubbock Texas native, was raised immersed in a family business
focused on the repair, maintenance, and manufacture of electrical machines. It's
often joked that his first words were "dirty motor," but from an early age, he was
guided by two generations of experience in what it took to earn an honest living
and lead a team. Scott is a member of the third generation of family leadership in
Brandon and Clark Inc. Brandon and Clark Inc. began as a local motor repair
company in Lubbock Texas April 1st, 1950. The company started by two brothers
has grown to serve regional, national, and international customers in the areas of
electric motors, transformers, automation, field services, engineering services,
and sales.

Scott graduated from Texas Tech in 2002 with two Bachelor's degrees in
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. While at Texas Tech he was active
in IEEE, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and an active
member of the Electrical Engineering honor society HKN. Tech had a profound
impact on Scott, where he learned not only the hard skills of engineering but the
soft skills of teamwork, communication, and perseverance in the electrical
engineering department laboratory classes, which are a unique facet of the TTU
ECE curriculum. Tech left Scott with a commitment to lifelong learning and a
passion for electrical engineering.

After attending Texas Tech, Scott sought challenges further afield and joined the
National Security Agency as an Engineer and Physical Science Researcher. During
his tenure at the National Security Agency, he was awarded a full-time
scholarship by the Defense Department to pursue a Masters in Electrical
Engineering at The Johns Hopkins University. Scott studied optics at The Johns
Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory campus and was awarded a Masters in
Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2005.

Upon completion of his studies in optics, Scott took the opportunity to return to
his roots relocating to Lubbock and rejoining the team at Brandon and Clark Inc.
While at Brandon and Clark, Scott has balanced career growth with the role of
Husband, Father, and volunteer to the local engineering community. Scott has a
wonderful support network that keeps him grounded and focused. His wife
Corrie and son Grayson help balance the equation of work, family, and
community. Scott spends time serving in leadership roles in engineering related
professional societies such as IEEE where he is now recognized as a senior
member and volunteering in local STEM-related events and competitions.
At Brandon and Clark Scott has seen career progression from a role as
Automation Engineer to Transformer Division Manager. He now serves as the
Vice President of Engineering and Services, where his responsibilities include
oversight of all aspects of repair, manufacture, and service of electric motors,
generators, transformers, reclosers, regulators, compressors, switchgear, variable
frequency drives, test laboratories, and industrial control systems.
Scott is responsible for the leadership of engineering services, including
electrical power engineering services such as load studies, coordination studies,
arc-flash hazard analysis, electric system design, consulting, and forensic failure
investigation.

Additionally, Scott is responsible for leadership of research and development
efforts including, material performance and evaluation, testing technique
evaluation and development, new product design, vendor product evaluations,
and business process development.

During his tenure at Brandon and Clark, Scott has achieved Professional
Engineering licensure as a power and control system engineer in the state of
Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado. Most recently, he took an internal
research and development need and structured his efforts to coincide with the
pursuit of a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at Texas Tech that was completed in
2016, which focused on the design of a novel electrical machine insulation
system.

Scott has been involved in a variety of notable projects which have created a
meaningful impact to the electrical machine design and maintenance community.
Scott has patented novel control mechanisms for transformer apparatus, which
can significantly reduce operating losses along with developing unique testing
techniques and electrical machine design approaches.

Scott has been the architect of a new class of electrical machine testing
laboratories used in the transformer, motor, and pump testing industries,
designing test laboratories capable of testing motors as large as 15,000hp and
transformers operating at voltages up to 138kV. Approaching the challenge of
test laboratory design with an insider's perspective as a user, Scott served as
architect for a series of test laboratories that provide the robust performance
required for constant daily use and a modern approach to safety where operators
and facilities are protected from potential arc-flash exposure.

Scott has further contributed to the art of electrical machine design,
maintenance, and testing with the development of a new industry-leading
magnetic field imaging process for generator and motor rotors. This unique
magnetic field analysis technique, which has applications with manufacturers and
repair centers, stands poised to substantially improve the testing and
manufacture of electrical machine rotors, improving machine quality and
performance.

Scott has researched and continues to develop unique high voltage insulation
systems for electrical machines. Scott developed the first universal insulation
system for electric motors allowing a repair or manufacturing facility to complete
electric motor windings with a single set of materials, significantly streamlining
production process complexity when used.

Scott continues to be interested in the innovation process and questioning
industry preconceptions in an effort to improve current electrical machine design
and manufacturing processes.