Texas Tech University

2006 Inductees

Alan D. Greer, P.E.

--earned his B.S.C.E. in 1983 from Texas Tech University. Alan joined Freese and Nichols, Inc. in 1992, following 9 years with Teague Nall and Perkins, Inc., and a starting job with Austin Bridge Company. He is a partner and regional vice President at Freese and Nichols. Alan has led projects throughout the North Texas and Houston areas serving as principal-in-charge and/or client representative for more than 20 municipalities. He is recognized for his effectiveness in representing clients before community groups, planning boards and city councils. Alan's work encompasses capital improvement projects for the Dallas Public Works Department, Dallas Water Utilities, and Dallas Park and Recreation Departments. Recent projects include a comprehensive storm water management plan for the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. Alan's team helped complete the civil engineering work at the Dallas Eco Park building in South Dallas, the city's first LEEDS-certified green project. Honored as a young engineer in 1990 by the American Society of Civil Engineers and in 1992 by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, Alan has demonstrated superior technical skills, particularly in the area of stormwater management. He has led the Freese and Nichols team in writing the regional iSWM "Design Manual for Site Development." for North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). In partnership with NCTCOG, Alan has helped secure critical support of member municipalities in developing regional approaches to change storm water management practices in North Texas. Alan is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas, a member of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Texas Consulting Engineers Council, currently serving as secretary for the Dallas Chapter, and the Society of American Military Engineers. Alan is a big proponent of community service. He is a graduate of both Leadership Dallas and Leadership Grapevine. As a member of the board of directors of Fair Skate Park, he helped make ice skating available to inner-city children by helping to establish The Rink at Fair Park in Dallas. He has devoted many hours of service to the MathCounts competition, previously chairing the Fort Worth Chapter and encouraging MathCounts participation through his mentoring of young engineers. Alan has served his church on the Board of Trustees, as a Sunday school teacher and adult bible study leader. During the past year, through the Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange (GRACE), Alan personally assisted several families who relocated after hurricanes Rita and Katrina. Alan and his wife, Lori, make their home in Grapevine, Texas. They have four daughters, Lindsey, Meredith, Alyssa, and Brooklyn.

Bruce Earl Kromer, P.E.

--earned his B.S.C.E. from Texas Tech University in 1975. After graduation from Texas Tech, Bruce began work for Tank Builders, Inc. (TBI) in June 1975 as an Engineer in Training. TBI has been his continuous employer since that time. During the years of his service, he has seen the tools of his engineering trade progress from a pencil with slide rule and protractor to the latest computer aided design & drafting software. He now holds the current position of owner and President. The firm is a fabricator and erector of welded steel field erected storage tanks and hoppers primarily in Texas and surrounding states. TBI incorporated in 1972 and has specialized in the design and construction of welded steel plate projects for public and private clients ranging in size up to a maximum of 15,000,000 gallon capacity. Under Bruce's leadership, TBI has developed into the primary supplier of welded steel ground storage tanks and standpipes for the potable water storage industry in Texas. It leads the industry with a proven standard for safety, cost-effectiveness and durability in its design and construction. Bruce designed and constructed the first large capacity potable water storage clear well for the city of Houston using a composite steel tank with aluminum dome roof. An average of 40 to 60 water storage tanks are completed annually with individual contract cost up to low 7 figures. TBI customers are located from Wyoming to New York. TBI participated as a fabricator and steel erector in the development of the currently popular large capacity composite concrete/steel elevated water storage tank alternative. Bruce designed and developed a thermal energy storage system for heating and air conditioning system storage of chilled water that has been well received by that industry. In 2005 Bruce organized Tank & Vessel Builders, LP, as an operating company to design and build ASME pressure vessels for both the internal pressure and vacuum tank markets. A 25,000 SF fabrication facility is planned to open in 2006. He serves as President of the new entity. Bruce is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Colorado. He has memberships in the American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the American Welding Society, the American Water Works Association, the Steel Structures Painting Council, the Steel Plate Fabricators Association and Chi Epsilon, the Civil Engineering Honorary Society. In his community Bruce serves as Board Member and President of the Pro-Youth Rodeo Association, the Texas High School Rodeo Association, Region III Board Member, Team Sponsor for the North Texas High School Rodeo Association and Honorary Chapter Farmer, Vocational Agriculture Department, Adrian High School. Bruce and his wife Thelma make their home in Keller, Texas. They have four children, Kyle, Kelly, Kasey and Kent. Their son Kent is currently enrolled in the CE program at Texas Tech.

Brian D. Schrader, P.E.

--earned his B.S.C.E. from Texas Tech University in 1980 and his Master of Engineering degree from Texas A&M University in 1982. While working on his degree at Texas Tech Brian worked with the Institute for Disaster Research as a Project Manager for a major National Science Foundation research effort. Upon completion of his ME at Texas A&M, Brian went to work for Harris Corporation in Antenna Operations as a Senior Engineer. In 1984 he began work with Vertex Communication Corporation as the Manager of Analytical Staff. Through a history of acquisitions and mergers, Brian is now the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) Project Senior Director for VertexRSI Antenna Products, General Dynamics C4 Systems SATCOM Technologies Division. General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies' largest contract to date, worth $169 million, was for the ALMA project. The contract calls for General Dynamics C4 Systems to design, manufacture and deliver twenty-five, 12-meter antennas for the North American portion of an international astronomy facility. ALMA is an international collaborative effort to build and operate the world's most sensitive millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelength telescope which ultimately could consist of an array of up to 64 high-precision antennas, and an additional compact array supplied by Japan, all in Chile's Atacama Desert, 16,500 feet above sea level. All of the ALMA antennas will work together as one telescope to provide a spatial resolution 10 times higher than the Hubble Space Telescope. Imaging qualities and the ability to change the configuration of the antennas will make ALMA astronomy's most versatile imaging instrument. In this realm, ALMA will study the structure of the early universe and the evolution of galaxies, gather crucial data on the formation of stars and planets, and provide new insights on the familiar objects of our own solar system. ALMA construction and operations are led on behalf of North America by National Radio Astronomy Observatory, operated by Associated Universities, Inc. for the National Science Foundation. It is a partnership between North America (United States and Canada), Europe and Japan, in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. Pre-assembly work on the contract will be completed in Kilgore, Texas and Duisburg, Germany, by employees of GDC4S VertexRSI Antenna Products. The first antenna is scheduled for delivery in 2007, with final delivery of all the antennas expected by the end of 2011. Brian is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas. He and his wife, Michele, reside in Longview, Texas. They have four children, Steve, Chris, Drew, and Todd.

Jayaraman (Siva) Sivakumar, Ph.D.

--earned his Ph.D. in Structures from Texas Tech University in 1985. While working on his Ph.D., he was Part-Time Instructor in the Department of Civil Engineering. Prior to coming to Texas Tech he earned his MS from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 1981. In 1988 Dr. Sivakumar began working as an Adjunct Faculty member for Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan in the Math and Science Division. At the same time he began working for General Motors (GM) Powertrain as an Analysis Engineer and has advanced to his current position as Engineering Group Manager. His responsibilities at GM Powertrain involve managing and providing technical leadership to a group of 55 engineers in the Structures and Dynamics Analysis Group with an annual budget of $10 Million. Dr. Sivakumar has analyzed and directed a number of projects to repair field failures, avoidance of potential recalls and reduced warranty costs saving GM several million dollars. Dr. Sivakumar is known both nationally and internationally. He is technical coordinator for 35 engineers at TATA Consultancy Services & QUANTECH, India. His responsibilities include selecting engineers and training them for standardized work for GM Trained Engineers from Holden-Australia, SAAB-Sweden, PATAC-China, GM-France and GM-India. He has developmental activities with vendors in the USA, Germany, Austria and England. A champion and leader in the implementation of new technologies which include pioneering noise analysis of engine components, implementation of constrained layer damping to covers, driveline bending integrity, developed techniques to analyze vibration fatigue, new kinematic procedures to meet OSHA safety requirements for lift mechanics in assembly plants and use of Statistical Energy Analysis as a synthesis tool for noise analysis. Dr. Sivakumar's leadership at GM Powertrain includes Owner and Custodian of the Noise and Vibration Group; Chairman, Noise Methods and Processes; Chairman, Powertrain Bending Analysis Council; and Crash Analysis Coordinator with vehicle platforms. He has received a letter of commendation from the GM chairman for Driveline Analysis Techniques. Dr. Sivakumar has published seven papers in journals and conferences and authored several internal reports. He is a volunteer for the Adopt A Highway Program with the Michigan Department of Transportation and an active member in the Rejuvenate India Movement in the United States. Dr. Sivakumar coached AYSO soccer for six years and has volunteered for American Red Cross & Local Convalescent Centers. Siva and his wife, Shanthi, reside in Grand Blanc, Michigan. They have two children, Karthik and Kylash.

Department of Civil, Environmental, & Construction Engineering

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