Undergraduate researcher, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering
103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
Hometown: Pearland, TX
Email: jdleaverton@tamu.edu
James was a senior mechanical engineering student at Texas A&M and a Brockman Scholarship recipient. He finished his degree in May 2022 and subsequently began pursuing a M.S. Business degree. James joined the HVIL in December 2019 and helped establish the laboratory after working on the FAA Post-Crash Fire Forensic project. Since then, he has conducted a self-started research project (forthcoming publication) to empirically model hypervelocity sabot separation. James also interned at NASA Langley Research Center studying hypervelocity impacts to carbon-carbon composites.
Cullen Miller
Undergraduate Researcher, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering
103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
Hometown: The Woodlands, TX
Email: cjmiller22@tamu.edu
Cullen was a mechanical engineering undergraduate student at Texas A&M. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in May 2022.
Brynn Martin
Undergraduate Researcher, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering
103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Email: brynnmartin1@tamu.edu
Brynn was a mechanical engineering student at Texas A&M. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in December of 2022. Before joining the HVIL in December of 2021, she had several experiences working in many team environments. She was president of a student organization on campus and her recent summer internship in building design provided great collaboration exposure to a team of different engineers. Brynn supported key hypervelocity impact research with the HVIL team.
Michael Rakoski
Undergraduate Researcher, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering
103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
Hometown: Katy, TX
Email: michaelrakoski@tamu.edu
Michael is a sophomore mechanical engineering student at Texas A&M University. He plans on graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in May 2024. He has experience developing scripts for computational modeling, sensors, and user interfaces for various labs/design teams. His research interests include the aerospace industry, hypersonics, structures, and materials.
Sarah Beth Ragan
Undergraduate Researcher, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering
103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
Hometown: Dripping Springs, TX
Email: sarahbragan@tamu.edu
Sarah Beth is a sophomore mechanical engineering student at Texas A&M. She plans to graduate in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science and afterwards pursue a M.S. Business degree at A&M. She is in a leadership position in an organization on campus and has previous experience researching properties and measurement methods of magnetic materials. Sarah Beth is looking forward to participating in research at the HVIL.
Vanessa Barton
Undergraduate Researcher, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering
103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
Hometown: Corpus Christi, TX
Email: vanessa_barton@tamu.edu
Vanessa Barton is an honors mechanical engineering student at Texas A&M University. She is on track to complete her bachelor’s degree in May 2024 and is considering pursuing a master’s degree. She is looking forward to gaining experience in academic research and investigating hypervelocity impact phenomena and material characterization alongside Dr. Lacy and the HVIL team.
Nick Kroger
Undergraduate Researcher, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering
103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
Hometown: Houston, TX
Email: nakroger1@tamu.edu
Nick is a Mechanical Engineering student planning on graduating with a Bachelors of Science in May of 2024. Nick joined the HVIL team in the Spring of 2022, and assisted in the research of hypervelocity impacts into next generation carbon composites and concretes.
Zachary Gant
Undergraduate Researcher (Graduated Spring 2021), J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering
103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
Email: zgant@tamu.edu
Zachary was a Bachelor of Science student in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering. He finished his undergraduate degree in May of 2021. His professional experience includes being an Aircraft Painting Technician for AAR Corp where he also shadowed aircraft mechanics. He researched hypervelocity impacts throughout the his undergrad career at Texas A&M University under Dr. Lacy’s guidance.