Leadership Team – IEEE Lonestar RAS

Ernest Franke Chair Ernest Franke is a Technical Advisor at Southwest Research Institute. He received BSEE (1961) and MSEE (1963) degrees from Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) and his Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University (1967). His experience includes academic work (professor and Dean of Engineering, Texas A&I), product development (Vice-President of R&D, Alpha Electronics), and industrial R&D (Southwest Research Institute). His research interests include sensors, machine perception and robot applications. At SwRI, he led research programs in computer vision for industrial inspection and robot systems. Kris Kozak Vice Chair Experienced researcher, developer and problem solver with a demonstrated history working globally to provide customized solutions in the dynamic fields of self driving & autonomous vehicles, robotics, systems and software. Skilled in vehicle localization, control and perception with high-level experience developing software in C++, Matlab and Python. Impressive professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on robotics from Georgia Institute of Technology. Ian Meinzen Treasurer Kevin Nickels Webmaster Kevin Nickels is an associate professor in the Department of Engineering Science at Trinity University. He received the B.S. degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering from Purdue University (1993), and received the M.S. degree (1996) and the Ph. D. (1998) in Electrical Engineering from The University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. He teaches in the areas of Digital Logic Design, Embedded Microcomputer Systems, Mechatronics, and Engineering Design. He researches in the areas of computer vision, hand-eye calibration, robotic mapping, and navigation. Dr. Nickels has spent academic leaves at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, ARL's Applied Research Laboratory, and Southwest Research Institute. Jeannina Morgan Secretary Jeannina Morgan is an experienced technical helpdesk associate for the City of Seguin along with founding her own company Livestock Lifesavers. She received her B.S. degree in Electrical Computer Engineering Technology with minors in Renewable Energy and Linguistics with an emphasis in American Sign Language in 2022 from New Mexico State University. She has pursued her passions in robotics and engineering as hobbies and as mentoring students and student groups. With her many hobbies for art, animals and technology she is always on the move but still finds the time to learn something new wherever she goes.

Ernest Franke

Chair

Ernest Franke is a Technical Advisor at Southwest Research Institute. He received BSEE (1961) and MSEE (1963) degrees from Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) and his Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University (1967). His experience includes academic work (professor and Dean of Engineering, Texas A&I), product development (Vice-President of R&D, Alpha Electronics), and industrial R&D (Southwest Research Institute). His research interests include sensors, machine perception and
robot applications. At SwRI, he led research programs in computer vision for industrial inspection and robot systems.

Kris Kozak

Vice Chair

Experienced researcher, developer and problem solver with a demonstrated history working globally to provide customized solutions in the dynamic fields of self driving & autonomous vehicles, robotics, systems and software. Skilled in vehicle localization, control and perception with high-level experience developing software in C++, Matlab and Python. Impressive professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on robotics from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Ian Meinzen

Treasurer

Kevin Nickels

Webmaster

Kevin Nickels is an associate professor in the Department of Engineering Science at Trinity University. He received the B.S. degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering from Purdue University (1993), and received the M.S. degree (1996) and the Ph. D. (1998) in Electrical Engineering from The University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. He teaches in the areas of Digital Logic Design, Embedded Microcomputer Systems, Mechatronics, and Engineering Design. He researches in the areas of computer vision, hand-eye calibration, robotic mapping, and navigation. Dr. Nickels has spent academic leaves at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, ARL's Applied Research Laboratory, and Southwest Research Institute.

Jeannina Morgan

Secretary

Jeannina Morgan is an experienced technical helpdesk associate for the City of Seguin along with founding her own company Livestock Lifesavers. She received her B.S. degree in Electrical Computer Engineering Technology with minors in Renewable Energy and Linguistics with an emphasis in American Sign Language in 2022 from New Mexico State University. She has pursued her passions in robotics and engineering as hobbies and as mentoring students and student groups. With her many hobbies for art, animals and technology she is always on the move but still finds the time to learn something new wherever she goes.