Mr. Brian Thomas

Education

Master of Arts in Theology, Ecology, and Food Justice

In process, Baylor University, Truett Seminary, Completed 17 of 45 semester hours

Master of Electrical Engineering

August 1992, University of Houston, Concentrated study in Electromagnetics

Bachelor of Science

December 1989, Stephen F. Austin State University, Major: Physics, Minor: Mathematics

Awards

• William H. Bailey Outstanding Physics Graduate 1989
• Pi Mu Epsilon, mathematics honor society
• Dean’s List & President’s Honor Roll
• Freshmen Physics Fellowship 1986

Academic Appointments

Baylor University, School of Engineering and Computer Science

• Senior Lecturer of Electrical and Computer Engineering (since 2008),
• Faculty Steward of Teal Residential College (faculty-in-residence, since 2016),
• 2001-2008, Lecturer, ECE
• 2000-2001, Adjunct Lecturer, part time, ECE

Courses Taught

• Ethics for International Service
• Technologies for Developing Countries
• Renewable Energy Devices
• Electric Circuit Analysis
• Introduction to Engineering
• Bioinstrumentation
• Engineering Design I (Junior Design)
• Engineering Design II (Senior Design)

Served as Assistant Chair 2012-2016

• Advised and evaluated all transfer students, international students, and students studying abroad (both those whose home institution was Baylor, and those coming to Baylor from other institutions)
• Shepherded undergraduate curriculum in Electrical and Computer Engineering, chaired undergraduate curriculum committee, assisted faculty with the creation of new courses, updated degree audits, updated Undergraduate Catalog for ECE department, evaluated student petitions and requests for prerequisite overrides

Teaching/Mentoring Awards

• Baylor Fellow, 2013-2014, recognition for teaching
• Richard Couey Award, 2014, given by Phi Kappa Chi fraternity for reflection its core values: commitment to Christ, excellence, humility, integrity, and respect
• Outstanding Faculty Partner Award, Division of Student Life, 2013, for leading international service learning trips with students from 2005-2013
• Twice awarded Faculty Advisor of the Year among student organizations at Baylor for being the faculty advisor of the organization Engineers with a Mission, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014
• As the faculty advisor, I shared the Student Organization of the Year Award, 2012-2013, with the officers and members of Engineers with a Mission
• Outstanding Professor among Baylor University Lecturers and Non-tenure Track Faculty, 2006-2007 for teaching

Humanitarian Engineering & Service Learning Experiences

Haiti

2013-2017

Led dozens of engineering students in multiple teams to design and install off-grid solar photovoltaic systems to support the work of Christian nonprofit organizations from the United States and Haiti. Mentored students regarding the technical, spiritual, and personal impacts of the trip on their lives.

Honduras

2007-2011

Directed nine separate teams of engineering students in the design and installation of small hydroelectric systems, custom microgrids for delivering electricity in rural villages, solar hot water heater systems, water purification systems, and a hydro-mechanical energy system. Mentored students regarding the technical, spiritual, and personal impacts of the trip on their lives.

Uganda

September 2007

Travelled to a remote missionary station and designed a 1000 W solar (PV) array with battery bank and inverter. Installation successfully performed by later team.

Kenya

May 2006

Led seven undergraduate engineering students in the design and deployment of hybrid solar/wind energy system in the Kibera slum of Nairobi. Mentored students regarding the technical, spiritual, and personal impacts of the trip on their lives.

Kenya

Led four undergraduate engineering students in the design and deployment of a 50 W solar photovoltaic system to charge a deep cycle battery and power a lighting system for a school of deaf children. Mentored students regarding the technical, spiritual, and personal impacts of the trip on their lives.

Iraq

December 2003

As part of a team of Baylor faculty, participated in a workshop for Kurdish engineering professors on current practices being used in the United States.

Select Publications

• Thomas, Brian, Ben Phillips, and Kayla Garrett. "Viable, Reliable, and Buyable: Propane for Electricity Generation in Haiti" 2023 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC). IEEE, 2023.
• Thomas, Brian, and Kayla Garrett. "Installing Solar for Haitian Civil Society with Emphases on Maintenance and Empowerment." 2022 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC). IEEE, 2022. 
• Brian Thomas, Ryan McGhee, Brent Benner, “Pico-Hydropower Franchising in Rural Honduras”, International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp 45-62, Spring 2011, ISSN 1555- 9033
• Brian Thomas, “A Wind Powered, White LED Lighting System for the Kibera Slum of Nairobi”, International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp 16-31, Spring 2007, ISSN 1555- 9033
• John Miller, Brian Thomas, “Design of a Bicycle-Powered Electric Generator for Use in Developing Countries”, Presented at the ASEE GSW Annual Conference, March 2007, South Padre Island, Tx., and in: Proceedings of the 2007 American Society for Engineering Education Gulf Southwest Annual Conference, 2007.
• Kelley, B.S., Bradley, W.L, Thomas, J.B., “Student-Aimed Appropriate Technology Engineering Projects in Kenya”, Paper presented at the ASEE GSW Annual Conference, March 17, 2006, Baton Rouge, La. and in: Proceedings of the 2006 American Society for Engineering Education Gulf Southwest Annual Conference, 10 pps; 2006.
• Benjamin S. Kelley, Cynthia C. Fry, David B. Sturgill, and J. Brian Thomas, “Faith-Based and Secular Experience on Rebuilding Engineering and Computer Science Higher Education in Kurdistan of Iraq,” Proceedings of the 5th Christian Engineering Education Conference, pp 35-47, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 23-25, 2004.
• Thomas, J. Brian, “Cross-Coupling in Coaxial Cavity Filters - A Tutorial Overview”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques Special Tutorial Issue, April 2003. This article has been cited 319 times as of October 2023.

Non-Academic Professional Experiences

Justice and Mercy Energy Services

2018 - present, Waco, Texas and Cap Haïtien, Haiti

Co-founded 501(c)3 non-profit organization and serve as Executive Director. The organization designs, installs, and maintains solar energy systems for civil society organizations in northern Haiti. Work is performed by a small group of Haitian employees and U.S. volunteers. Systems have been installed at hospitals, clinics, schools, and other facilities serving the common good. Ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting provide local jobs for economic development.

Electric Power Engineers

Summer 2007 full time, Fall 2007 part time, Waco, Texas

Performed preliminary designs for wind farm power collection circuits including specifying conductors, transformers, and associated switchgear. Considered budgetary issues, wind resource estimates, wind turbine performance parameters, protection schemes, and terrain constraints

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Summer Appointment 2002, Green Bank, West Virginia

As a contracted microwave engineer, designed a five-port multiplexer to divide 26-40 GHz into four, approximately equal bands for radio telescope receiver. Performed simulations and optimizations using circuit modeling software, including planar electromagnetic simulation

Remec Wacom

February 1999 – August 2001, Waco, Texas

Design and Project Engineer for RF components and subsystems. Responsible for design and development of prototypes, debugging, documentation, and acceptance testing criteria. Viewed as a leader in engineering by management. Instructed technicians and junior engineering staff in many subjects applicable to RF circuits.

Microwave Networks Incorporated

July 1992 - September 1995, Houston, Texas

As entry level engineer, performed extensive systems level testing, troubleshooting and development on 2 and 8 GHz digital transmitters and receivers. Performed acceptance testing, qualified and evaluated many components: power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, oscillators, mixers, ferrite devices and filters (cavity and waveguide), waveguide manifolds, transmitters and receivers.