J. Mark Thom is an Associate Professor at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. Professor Thom teaches courses in airframe systems in the Aeronautical Technology program as well as engineering technology courses in design analysis. He serves as committee chair for graduate students studying in areas related to aeronautical engineering technology and industrial processes. Professor Thom has maintained research interests in propulsion systems and in fuels testing, as well as areas related to the recruitment of women into aviation technology careers.
Professor Thom is Co-PI on a cooperative research agreement through the US Air Force Research Labs for the development of a National Test Facility for fuels and propulsion. This center involves development research regarding alternative and future aviation fuels. He is a guiding member of the Facility, which has a Materials Laboratory for fuels and polymers, exhaust emissions measurement for turbine and reciprocating engines, warm fuel test rigs, and cross collaborative project management teams.
Professor Thom has collaborated on work regarding the technical skills required for aerospace engineers in the 21st century and has worked on methods for re-integrating hands-on skills into engineering and engineering technology education. He has done research on applied skills in engineering, and he currently serves on the Department' s ABET accreditation working group, which is pioneering the use of the FAA Part 147 requirements into an engineering technology curriculum.
thomj@purdue.edu
765-494-9757