Education

M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 1986

                  Thesis: Processing 2-Liter Soda Bottles into High Purity Flake

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin – Platteville, 1984

Experience

2016 – present                     Assistant Professor, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, LeTourneau University, Longview TX

1990 – present                     Chief Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland WA

1987 – 1990                          wTe Corporation of California, San Francisco CA

1986 – 1987                          Institute for Technology Development, Jackson MS

Courses Taught

• ENGR 1523 Introduction to Engineering Practice 2
• METC 2013 and MEGR 2013 Statics
• METC 3503 Thermodynamics
• METC 4513 Fluid Mechanics
• METC4113 Engineering Technology Measurements Lab
• ENGR 4813 and ENGR 4823 Senior Design
• other special topics/electives, as required

Advising & Sponsoring

• LeTourneau Automotive Society
• LeTourneau Intercollegiate Swim Club
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers, LeTourneau Student Chapter

Background

I enjoyed a 30-year career in industry, most of that at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland WA.  I was involved in research, development, and deployment to solve problems in hazardous and nuclear waste remediation for the U.S. Department of Energy and in radiation detection for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  My career has provided me with experience in a wide variety of design, manufacturing, construction, remediation, and demolition practices and equipment, process instrumentation and controls, and plant equipment.  Along the way, we moved to the country, built a beautiful farm house, and raised our kids on hard work and fresh air.  I wasn’t looking for a new job when God made it abundantly obvious that he was calling me to leave my well-paying job, dream home, and little family farm and “go to a land I will show you”.  That land was LeTourneau University in 2016, where I now have the privilege and hope of spending the last quarter of my career at this Christ-centered institution, helping the next generation integrate faith and learning here so they can integrate faith and work wherever God calls them.

My wife and I met on a summer mission trip in college and were married in 1986.  We have 5 children… our oldest is a 2013 LeTourneau graduate and he is now an air traffic controller. We have two daughters who graduated from Biola University (2015, 2018).  Our remaining daughter graduated from LeTourneau in 2019. Our youngest son graduated from LeTourneau in 2020. 

My father worked for the U.S. Forest Service and we moved every 3 years or so around the country as I was growing up.  My job involved a lot of travel, both short term and off-site assignments.  Fun fact: I have been to 49 states and 14 countries.  But we are now happy to be settled here in East Texas, where any travel is usually by our choice.

Selected Publications, Reports, and Presentations

Tixier, John S., “Observations on Things Measured in the Bible.” Proceedings of the 2017 Christian Engineering Conference, June 28-30, 2017. Cedarville University, Cedarville OH.

Tixier JS, WJ Kernan, MP Portch, CJ Hostick, RJ Leigh, ML Kimura, KL Peterson, MS Hoxie, KJ Pattison, TC Pulsipher.  2012.  Airport Characterization of Air Cargo and General Aviation to Support Development of Rad/Nuc Scanning Solutions.  PNNL-21208, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington. (For Official Use Only)

Tixier, J. S., et al., 2004. “Reference Design Descriptions for Radiation Interdiction System Deployment.  Volume 2a: Land Border Crossings” PIET-43741-DD-002. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington.

Kim, D-S, J. S. Tixier, et al., 2003.  “Development and Testing of ICV Glasses for Hanford LAW” PNNL-14351.  Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington.

Spalding, B. P., J. S. Tixier, et al.  1997. “In Situ Vitrification Demonstration at Pit 1, Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Results of the Treatability Study.” ORNL/ER-425/V1.  Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Hansen, James E. and John S. Tixier, 1996.  “Commercialization of the In Situ Vitrification Technology.” Presented in the “Challenges in Ceramic Product Development, Manufacturing, and Commercialization” Symposium at the 1995 AmCerSoc annual meeting.  Published in Ceramic Transaction series, Volume 66, American Ceramic Society, Westerville, Ohio.

Tixier, J. S., and L. E. Thompson, 1993. “In Situ Vitrification: Providing a Comprehensive Solution for Remediation of Contaminated Soils.”  Proceedings of the 1993 International Conference on Nuclear Waste Management and Environmental Restoration.  Prague, Czech Republic.

Murphy, M. T., J. L. Buelt, J. A. Stottlemyre, and J. S. Tixier.  Vitrified Underground Structures.  U.S. Patent Number 5,114,277

Trezek, G.J., Tixier, J.  1987.  "Processing PET bottles into high purity flake."  Resour. Conserv.  15(1-2), 151-9.