Testimonial

Lawrence M. Butkus

[Ph.D. ME 1997]
Lt. Col. United States Air Force
Air Forces Aging Aircraft Program
Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio

I decided to attend Georgia Tech for my Ph.D. based on a number of things. First, I had a very positive experience when I visited the campus as part of my search for a school for my MS work. Georgia Tech lost out to Michigan principally due to a good relationship I had previously developed with my MS thesis advisor at Michigan, and the benefits that brought to having to complete an MS degree with a thesis in 15 months. However, Tech's great approach toward recruiting qualified grad students remained in my emory, so I immediately thought of it as a place to pursue my Ph.D. work. Second, through a previous Air Force assignment I had prior "third hand" contact with my advisor at Tech, Dr. Steve Johnson (he knew of me and I knew of him, but we had never met). I felt a tie to an advisor before showing up to begin studies would be beneficial since the Air Force only granted me three years to complete my doctorate. Third, Dr. Bill Wepfer and his staff in the ME Graduate Admissions office were exceedingly helpful in smoothing out my application process, especially in securing an in-state tuition rate based on my military status. Obtaining in-state tuition was crucial to the Air Force's approval of my desire to attend Tech. Finally, Tech's outstanding reputation, not only as a top notch engineering R&D school but also as a school recognized for its excellence by practicing engineers, really "sealed the deal."

Although I already had a career in the Air Force before attending Georgia Tech, my experiences in my Ph.D. program provided me with some valuable contacts which have been beneficial to me. Specifically, contacts I made at Lockheed Martin, Robins AFB, and NASA thanks to my Air Force- and NASA-related thesis research have helped me in assignments that I have had after completing my Ph.D. degree. In addition, I have kept in contact, professionally and socially, with many of my fellow graduate students from Tech. These relationships have been particularly fulfilling.

The strength of the Georgia Tech graduate program is a combination of a strong emphasis on fundamental engineering concepts combined with a healthy exposure to real-world technical challenges. The broad nonacademic experience of Tech's faculty adds a great deal to the educational experience offered by the school particularly to those students who have not yet ventured beyond academia and into industrial or government employment.

The Woodruff School does a great job of attracting top-notch graduate students, retaining superb faculty, and providing an excellent physical plant. The faculty do an excellent job of obtaining the best equipment necessary to perform the research projects in which they are involved.

Speaking from firsthand experience, I would say that the Woodruff School is on par with the graduate Mechanical Engineering programs at the University of Michigan (where I received my MS) and MIT (where I received my BS and assisted in graduate-level research.