Turbomachinery Lab Drives Young Talent, Diversify Project Funding

Greg Gammon, Director of Global and Corporate Partnerships for Texas A&M’s Turbomachinery Laboratory, unveiled several education programs and funding initiatives in the works, aiming to enhance project funding and youth experience on an international scale.

According to Gammon, the Lab is currently developing the Turbomachinery Certification Program to accelerate the education of younger working engineers as older professional retire. Also, he’s drawing support for an Energy and Propulsion Research Consortium to fund projects executed by the Lab’s other technical disciplines.

TURBO: Why was the rotating equipment certification program created? What are your goals/expectations?

Gammon: The Turbomachinery Certification Program is just exiting its concept level right now. The idea emerged from one of our Turbo Lab graduates, Dr. Eyad Al-Khateeb, who’s with Saudi Aramco. He brought this idea to us about a year-and-a-half ago, and we began discussing the need for a certification program that would allow for a standardization of competencies across many industries. We’ve noted that there is a need for more young talent in the industry and for these people to be educated at a practical level.

TURBO: Is there anything else you’d like to highlight from a program perspective at Texas A&M?

Gammon: One of the major initiatives at the Texas A&M Turbo Lab is developing the Energy and Propulsion Research Consortium, which will allow us to execute and fund projects through its members. Professors and students working in thermal fluids and combustion and computational modeling and design will enjoy the same benefits that others enjoy through the Turbomachinery Research Consortium.

B roll video credit: Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications