Chris Rey, President, Energy to Power Solutions, newly elected to CSA Board
Who was your most influential mentor?
This is a difficult question to answer because I have had so many great mentors who have influenced my career over the years. Some names that immediately come to mind are Arnaud Devred, Yuri Lvovsky, Minfeng Xu, Alan Lauder, Yehia Eyssa and XR Huang. But there are countless others that I am sure I am forgetting and I apologize. Without a doubt, however, the single most influential person in my professional life was my dissertation advisor in graduate school, Dr. Louis Testardi.
In what ways did he help your career?
For me, the answer to this question is simple…there would have been no professional career in physics for me if it were not for his positive influence. There are no words that can describe the gratitude and admiration that I have for him. Dr. Testardi—or Dr. “T” to his graduate students—was a larger than life figure. There were countless times I wanted to branch off in graduate school and pursue other careers, but it was Dr. Testardi who always provided the encouragement I needed to stay and finish my PhD studies.
Through my entire career, I have never met a person possessing more general knowledge about the entire field of solid-state physics. If there was a known answer in solid-state physics, Dr. Testardi was knowledgeable about the topic. The other graduate students and I used to play a game where we would research a particular solid-state physics topic and then ask him detailed questions to see if we could stump him. We never did! The enthusiasm and positive attitude he displayed for each and every one of his students, other faculty and his staff were an inspiration to be emulated. He was a mentor’s mentor!
Mark Zagarola, Principal Engineer, Creare LLC, newly elected to CSA Board
Who was your most influential mentor?
Professor Alexander (Lex) Smits at Princeton University (1989-1995)
In what ways did he help your career?
Smits taught me two very important lessons that have shaped my career. First, trust your instincts. And second, leadership is sometimes no more than being there to listen. He also instilled in me a passion for experimental work.
Peter Knudsen, Senior Cryogenic Process Engineer, FRIB, MSU, newly elected to CSA Board
Who was your most influential mentor?
There are two, James Fesmire and Rao Ganni.
Where and when did you work together?
I worked with Fesmire for eight years in the propellants and gases, design engineering group at NASA Kennedy Space Center. His enthusiasm for cryogenics was contagious and is what started me this field! I worked with Ganni for the past 16 years, first at Jefferson Lab and now for the FRIB project at Michigan State University. He taught me most of what I know about helium systems through a myriad of small projects, modifications to existing systems and four major new systems that we have been involved with together.
In what ways did they help your career?
Neither is satisfied with designating cryogenics as a mature technology that rests on past accomplishments or superficial answers and consensus opinions. And they are humble enough to mentor others using their own missteps and to garner learning from these and from knowledgeable persons from all walks of life. These attributes have been a compass and reminder for me.
Peter Shirron, Senior Researcher, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, CSA President elect
Who was your most influential mentor?
Dr. Keith Gillis at NIST, Gaithersburg. Beginning in 1985, Gillis and I worked together in graduate school at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign under the guidance of our advisor, Prof. Jack Mochel, to design a new apparatus for third sound measurements in helium films.
In what ways did he help your career?
The experiment formed the basis of my thesis, and a large part of its success involved Gillis patiently teaching me the basics of cryogenic principles and techniques. His lessons formed a critical foundation for the projects I have since been involved in at NASA and for CSA.
Scott Courts, Senior Engineer, Lake Shore Cryotronics, Inc. newly elected to CSA Board
Who was your most influential mentor?
Though I’m grateful to many of my professors and colleagues for help and guidance during both my college years and professional career, my most influential mentor was Dr. James Tough.
Where and when did you work together?
We first met when I was a graduate student in the physics department at The Ohio State University. All first-year physics grad students took a survey course that exposed us to the professors and research programs within the physics department. Dr. Tough at the time was investigating the independent flow of normal and superfluid helium and the transition to turbulence. I was fascinated by the blend of low temperature physics and requisite technology and was fortunate to join his research group. Ultimately, he became my research and dissertation advisor.
In what ways did he help your career?
Working in Dr. Tough’s laboratory was my first exposure to the field of cryogenics and the associated technologies of low power measurements, vacuum science, computer-controlled instrumentation and (less obvious at the time) metrology. Today, I still use many of the “black arts” and tricks of cryogenics I learned in that lab through day-to-day discussions with Dr. Tough about low temperature physics. He shared both invaluable ideas for improving research and suggestions for overcoming technical barriers.
He taught me how to do research and, just as important, how to technically communicate the results. Above all, I’m eternally grateful for his endless patience with me as a graduate student!
Rich Dausman, COO, Cryomech, Inc., re-elected to CSA board, serves as Treasurer
Who was your most influential mentor?
Peter Gifford
Where and when did you work together?
I started working at Cryomech with Gifford in 1976 and have worked with him ever since.
In what ways did he help your career?
Gifford hired me fresh out of high school and thereafter taught me how to manufacture, assemble and test compressor systems and refrigerators. Most importantly, he emphasized the science, engineering and technical knowledge behind the designs. He was supportive when I took time to earn my mechanical engineering degree and allowed me the freedom to explore all facets of the business. My passion and enthusiasm for Cryomech, our customers and the cryogenic community are due in large part to Gifford’s influence and encouragement.
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