Judges for the 2000 Tennessee State Tournament

Dr. Stephen Canfield - Design Award

Dr. Stephen Canfield received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech, in 1997. Currently, Dr. Canfield is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tennessee Technological University. He teaches courses in kinematics and dynamics of machinery, robotics, mechatronics and intelligent machines. He and his students are involved in research for compliant spatial manipulators, mobile climbing robots, assistive mechanisms for children with disabilities, and genetic algorithms for synthesis of compliant mechanisms.

Mr. John De Gregory, Jr. - Team Spirit Award

Mr. John De Gregory, Jr. received his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York in 1973. Currently, Mr. De Gregory works for the U.S. Department of Energy where he is the manager of the Robotics Crosscutting Program within the Office of Science and Technology. This program includes technology development for remote characterization and dismantlement tools for the decommissioning and dismantling of reactors, fuel processing facilities, hot cells and canyons. The program funds the advanced development of remote manipulators, remote mobile platforms, and remote automated systems for the handling and control of nuclear material processes.

Dr. John Draper - Presentation Award

Dr. John Draper received his Ph.D. degree in industrial psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1987. Dr. Draper is responsible for human factors research and development in the Robotics and Process Systems Division at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He has been active in synthetic environment and telerobotic technology development since 1981. His research interests include human-robot interaction and the application of human biomechanics to robot design.

Mr. John Dunn - Innovative Design Award

Mr. John Dunn received his BS degree in mechanical engineering from Tennessee Technological University in 1990. He is the founder and owner of Industrial Automation and Instrumentation in Knoxville, Tennessee. IAI develops automated processes for industry & manufacturing facilities as well as process improvement systems. He has been instrumental in process automation initiatives for many public and private companies as well as the Department of Defense and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Mr. Dennis Haley - Against All Odds Award

Mr. Dennis Haley holds a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He is the Section Head for the Telerobotic Systems Section within the Robotics and Process Systems Division at the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where he manages a technical staff engaged in applied research and development in the field of remote systems and robotics. Prior to joining ORNL in 1991, Mr. Haley spent 10 years with the Martin Marietta Corporation in Denver, Colorado where he held technical management and research positions in research and development programs in robotics.

Dr. Reid Kress - Innovative Design Award

Dr. Reid Kress received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in 1988 from the University of Arizona in Tucson. Currently, Dr. Kress is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Previously, he was the Telerobotic Systems group leader for the Robotics and Process Systems Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Kress has interests in the design, simulation, and control of robotic and teleoperated manipulators in hazardous environment applications.

Dr. Lynne Parker - Programming Award

Dr. Lynne Parker received her Ph.D. degree in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she performed her research in the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Dr. Parker is a senior research staff member and group leader of the Computational Intelligence Group in the Computer Science and Mathematics Division at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Her main research focus is in autonomous, multi-robot systems. She was a winner of the 2000 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers for her research work in cooperative robotics.

Dr. Stephen Stow - Presentation Judge

Dr. Stephen Stow holds a Ph.D. in geochemistry from Rice University and previously taught geology at the University of Alabama. Since 1980, Dr. Stow has been employed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He has performed considerable geochemical and petrologic research and published papers on volcanic systems.

Mrs. Katie Vandergriff - Mentorship Award

Mrs. Vandergriff received her B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Tennessee Technological University in 1987. Currently, she is president of Machine Kinetics Technologies Corporation, a service firm specializing in mechanical engineering and machine design. Prior to joining MK Technologies, she spent fourteen years at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a project manager in the Robotics and Process Systems Division and was named one of ORNL's "Pioneering Women." She has been active in numerous technical and professional societies. She is currently serving the American Society of Mechanical Engineers on the National Board for Pre-College Education. She is a member of the National Association of Female Executives, and received the "Outstanding Leader and Advocate Award" from the Association of Women in Science. In 1993 she was selected as the "Outstanding Young Engineer of the Year" for the State of Tennessee.

Dr. Venu Varma - Mechanical Design Award

Dr. Venu Varma received his Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1993. Since 1993, he has been with the Robotics and Process Systems Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the past 7 years and works in the kinematics, mechanical design, dynamics and control aspects of robot development. His current interests are in the area of piezoelectric and shape memory alloy actuator development.

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The FIRST LEGO League Tennessee State Tournaments are co-sponsored by UT-Battelle and the Tennessee Technological University.