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Board of Advisors

Nathan Sam Dougherty

Senior Systems Engineer and Technical Fellow – ERC, Inc.

Nathan Sam Dougherty_2014Sam Dougherty is former Senior Manager of Mechanical/ Structures Engineering at the Boeing Company, Huntsville Site, Huntsville, Alabama, retiring in 2003. Dougherty is a Senior Systems Engineer and Technical Fellow for ERC, Inc. in the Jacobs Engineering Group at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and Senior Staff Member working in the structures, thermal, and environments area of vehicle/spacecraft systems engineering and integration.

Dougherty graduated from The University of Tennessee in 1962 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering and from UTSI in 1970 with an M.S. in aerospace engineering. He continued studies in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Management at UTSI and at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.


James “Jim” Gray, M.D.

Head of Radiation Oncology, Tennessee Oncology

Jim Gray James R. Gray attended the University of Tennessee and graduated with highest honors in 1982 from the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, focusing on biomedical engineering. He went on to study medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, graduating in 1986.

He is currently a physician member of Tennessee Oncology, one of the largest private clinical oncology practice and research groups in the country, and serves as head of the Radiation Oncology Division.


Johney Green, Jr.

Associate Laboratory Director, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Johney Green, Jr. is the Associate Laboratory Director for Mechanical and Thermal Systems Engineering at the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

He earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Memphis and both his M.S. and PhD in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Green has received several awards during his career and holds two U.S. patents in combustion science. Additionally, he is the author or coauthor of several technical publications.


Scott N. Hilleary

President and CEO, SSM Industries, Inc.

Scott HillearyScott Hilleary is a senior executive with 32 years of experience in textile manufacturing – products and processes from design concept through production readiness and delivery.

Hilleary is a leader in strategic development and implementation. He received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Tennessee and his MBA from Vanderbilt University.


H. Lee Martin

Clinical Professor, UTK

Lee MartinH. Lee Martin was hired by the University of Tennessee Knoxville to create the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program for the Tickle College of Engineering. He is a successful entrepreneur, holder of 20 US patents, author of the book “Techonomics” and a mentor of many area entrepreneurs.

He received his B.S. from the University of Tennessee in 1978, his M.S. from Purdue University in 1979 and his PhD from the University of Tennessee in 1986.


Thomas C. Noyes

CEO, Commerce Signals

Noyes is the founder and CEO of Commerce Signals and has over 20 years of experience in banking, payments, software development and product innovation. He has worked with leading banks, mobile operators, payment networks, and entrepreneurs globally to bring innovation to consumers. He has built high performance global teams that have created new products to serve both advanced markets and the rural poor. He received his B.S. in aerospace engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1987 and his MBA from the University of Houston in 1991. Noyes worked for McDonnell Douglas Space Systems for 8 years and has been a frequent guest on CNN, Fox News, and ABC as a space analyst.


Nima Tamaddoni

Chief Executive Officer, T&T Scientific

Nima Tamadonni is entrepreneur with seven years of academic and industrial experience. He received his B.S.(2011), M.S.(2013), and PhD (2015) in mechanical engineering from the University of Tennessee. He founded T&T Scientific with colleague Graham Taylor in 2015 while a graduate student at the University of Tennessee. His goal is to further develop and improve technologies that increase the efficiency of translating promising medical technology from research and development to scaled up pharmaceutical manufacturing for clinical trials and approved patient use.


Graham Taylor

President and Chief Technology Officer, T&T Scientific

Graham Taylor is President and Chief Technology Officer for T&T Scientific, a company he founded with colleague Nima Tamaddoni. He received his B.S. (2007) and PhD (2015) in biomedical engineering from the University of Tennessee. Graham is a strong business development professional who has demonstrated history working in biotechnology and is skilled in medical device R&D, manufacturing, and sales.


Carol Whitt Tevepaugh

Owner and Managing Partner, Water Oak Resources LLC

Carol Tevepaugh has more than 30 years experience in a diverse range of aerospace, defense and energy programs: advanced concept studies, aerospace life support systems, liquid rocket propulsion, information technology, risk management, systems engineering, and economic development. She has been the owner and managing partner of Water Oak Resources LLC since 2011. She received her B.A. from the University of Alabama Huntsville in 1975, her M.S. from the University of Tennessee in 1979 and her MBA from Vanderbilt University in 1998.


James A. Tevepaugh

Owner and Managing Partner, Water Oak Resources LLC

Jim TevepaughJames Tevepaugh has more than 40 years experience in executive management, program management, engineering, integration and test experience in missile systems, space systems, energy and environmental systems. He received his B.S. from North Carolina State University in 1973 and his M.S. from the University of Tennessee in 1979.


Robert Wagner

Director of the Fuels, Engines, and Emissions Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Robert Wagner is a Fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He earned his PhD in mechanical engineering from the Missouri University of Science & Technology.

Dr. Wagner is the recipient of several awards from SAE and ASME. He has delivered more than 50 invited presentations in 10 countries, and is the author or coauthor of more than 110 technical publications on combustion, fuels, and transportation technologies.


Mike Wilder

Heavy Duty Diesel Operations Director, MAHLE

Mr. Mike Wilder began his career with MAHLE nearly 25 years ago as a young engineer seeking a progressive, technically oriented company offering growth and advancement opportunities. As Director of the Heavy Duty Diesel Piston Operations in the Morristown facility, he draws heavily from his previous work experiences as a MAHLE engineer, engineering manager, quality manager, and production manager as he fulfills his responsibilities for operations.