Directory

James M Thom

Associate Professor

Campus: West Lafayette
Contact Form

Department: Aviation Technology
Office: TERM 213
Phone: 765.494.9757
Fax:765.494.2305
Mailing Address:
Department of Aviation Technology, Purdue University
1401 Aviation Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2015

Biography:

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 reserach agreement through the US Air Force Reserach Labs for the development of a National Test Facilty for fuels and propulsion.  This center involves develoment research regarding alernative and future aviation fuels.  He is a guiding member of the Facility, which has a Materials Laboratroy for fuels and polymers, exhaust emissions measurment for turbine and reciprocating engines, warm fuel test rigs, and cross collaborative project managment teams.  

Professor Thom has collaborated on work regarding the technical skills required for aerospace engineers in the 21^st 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.

Publications

Articles

Thom, J.M., Hagovsky, T.C., Stanley, D.L., Hendricks, R. M., Johnson, M.E., and  Dubkovsky, M. I.  (In press).  Is ABET for You? History and Rationale of Pursuing ABET. Inc. Accreditation.  Aviation Technical Education Council Journal. 19-2., 45-54.

Thom, J.M., S.I. Dubikovsky, T.C. Hagovsky, D.L. Stanley, R.M. Hendricks (In Press). A Historical Perspective for Incorporating the Airframe and Powerplant Certificate as a Relevant Engineering Technology Skill.  JAAER. 19-2., 45-54.

Thom, J.M. and Gerbracht, T. L. (2008). Study of an Aviation Design Supportability Course for Engineering and Technology.  JAAER. 17-2., 33-49.

Thom, J.M. and Thom, M.A. (2006).  Back to the Future: A survey of Engineering and Technology Education over the Last Century.  Aviation Technical Education Council Journal. 28-1., 24-30.

Thom, J.M. and Brzezenski, J. (2006).  Turbine Powerplants: Using the A&P Course to Fulfill Engineering Needs.  Aviation Technical Education Council Journal. 28-1.,9-13.

Hagovsky, T.C., Thom, J.M., Young, J.P. (2004).  WebCT ™ In the Technical Classroom: Strengths and Weakness’ of Using the Delivery Method.  Aviation Technical Education Council Journal. 26-1., 4-6.

K. McNamara,* Thom,* J.M., & R. E. Thompson  (2005).  Improving Safety in a High Reliability/Low Commitment Work Environment, Collegiate Aviation Review, 22-1., 9-15.

Thom,* J.M., & D. R. Clarrett,*.  (2005).  A Structured Methodology for Adjusting Perceived Risk, Collegiate Aviation Review, 22-1.,97-121.

 Thom,* J.M.  & T.C. Hagovsky (2004).  Aircraft Wire Rope: Beyond the AC 43.13), Aviation Technical Education Council Journal. 25-2., 4-12.

 Thom*, J.M., & Pickering, M.  (2002).  A New Look at Motivators for Women to Enter Aviation Maintenance,  Aviation Technical Education Council Journal, 23-2,4-8.

 Thom, J.M. (2001). Diagnostic Data for Repair and Overhaul, Aviation Technical Education Council Journal, 22-2.,4-7.

Thom*, J.M. (1997). Industry Inputs for Better Communication Training for Aviation Maintenance Students. Aviation Technical Education Journal, 19 (1), 8-10.

Kimble*,M.A. and Thom*, J.M. (1997). The Elimination of Halon: Nothing Else Works Like It. Aviation Technical Education Journal, 18 (2), 8-10.

Kimble*,M.A. and Thom*, J.M. (1996). A Background on the Elimination of Freon. Aviation Technical Education Journal, 18 (1), 8-10.

Thom,* J.M. (1996). ASTM, CRC and the Replacement Fuels for Leaded Aviation Gasoline. Aviation Technical Education Journal, 17 (2), 7-9.

Thom,* J.M. (1994). Who Dreamed Up This Design?. Aviation Technical Education Journal, 16 (2), 4-8.

Kimble*, M.A. and Thom*, J.M. (1994). Skydrol, Why the Bad Rap? Aviation Technical Education Journal, 16 (1), 5-7.

Thom*, J.M. (1993) A Background Study of the Ozone Depletion Issue.  Journal of Avionics Education, 2 (1), 17-36

Kimble*, M.A. and Thom*, J.M. (1993).  Freon and Halon Replacement; Possibilities and Problems.  Journal of Avionics Education, 3 (1), 11-17.