Coordinate Metrology Society Conference Hosts Two Guest Speakers

Veteran metrologist Michael Raphael and former astronaut Dr. Bonnie Dunbar headline

Published: Thursday, May 23, 2019 - 20:22

The Coordinate Metrology Society is pleased to announce Michael Raphael, president of Direct Dimensions and a veteran metrologist, will give the keynote address at this year's Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC). Former NASA astronaut, engineer, and educator Dr. Bonnie Dunbar will be the featured guest speaker at the Wednesday CMSC Banquet.

This event marks the 35^th year of the CMSC, which is dedicated to portable and traditional coordinate measuring machine (CMM) measurement professionals. In the spirit of this landmark anniversary, Mr. Raphael will address the CMS at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23 with a presentation entitled, “The Future of 3D Metrology.” He will draw upon his 30+ years of experience to cover the field and explore the evolution of 3D measurement solutions, scanning technologies, and digital modeling solutions for the wide range of applications and industries. The CMSC will be held from July 22–26, 2019 at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld in Orlando, FL.

Former NASA astronaut, engineer, and educator Dr. Bonnie Dunbar will be the featured guest speaker at the annual Wednesday Banquet during the conference. Dunbar is currently a TEES Distinguished Research Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering, at Texas A&M University. She is the director of the Institute for Engineering Education Innovation (IEEI). In 2013, the highly decorated Dunbar was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame; she has also receiving the NASA Space Flight Medal five times, the NASA Exceptional Leadership Medal, and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.

For the past year, the CMS has paid tribute to women who have played a key role, past and present, in metrology and other science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professions.

Raphael got his start in the field of 3D metrology in 1985 as an engineer responsible for solving aerospace manufacturing problems. Raphael founded his company Direct Dimensions Inc. (DDI) in 1995 to provide comprehensive 3D technical services, product representations, sales and support for all types of 3D scanning, imaging, and dimensional measurement solutions. The company employs nearly 30 technical and professional employees and performs hundreds of 3D scanning and modeling projects every year. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in engineering science and mechanics, followed by a master’s degree in engineering administration from George Washington University.

A member of the National Academy of Engineering, Dunbar came to Texas A&M from the University of Houston, where she was an M.D. Anderson Professor of Mechanical Engineering. There she provided leadership in the development of a new integrated university STEM center and was director of the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston. She was also director of the master’s program in aerospace engineering and directed the SICSA Space Architecture and Aerospace graduate programs. Dunbar holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in ceramic engineering from the University of Washington and a Ph.D. in mechanical/biomedical engineering from the University of Houston.

Dunbar worked for The Rockwell International Space Division Co. building Space Shuttle Columbia. She then worked for 27 years at NASA, first as a flight controller and then as a mission specialist astronaut, where she flew five space shuttle flights, logging more than 50 days in space. She then served for seven years as a member of the NASA Senior Executive Service (SES) team. Her executive service included assistant NASA JSC director for university research, deputy director for Flight Crew Operations, associate director for ISS Mission Operations development, and as NASA headquarters deputy associate administrator for the Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications (OLMSA). She also served as part of the Challenger Space Shuttle accident investigation team.

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Belinda Jones

Belinda Jones is the founder and owner of HiTech Marketing LLC, in Westbrook, Connecticut. For more than a decade, Jones has written articles and commentaries about manufacturing, engineering, quality assurance, CAD/CAM/CAE applications, and other high-tech topics. She has extensive experience in marketing communications, technical sales, and applications engineering. Before joining the computer industry, she was a broadcast copywriter for four years. Jones holds degrees in fine arts and mechanical engineering, and studied cultural arts in Europe.