Dr. Thomas J. Kozik, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He received his bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Engineering Mechanics from Ohio State University. He has been a faculty member at Texas A&M University since 1963. Professor Kozik’s primary research interest endeavors have been in plate and shell theory and in particular its application to laminated anisotropic materials such as composites. For the last two decades, he has been involved in petroleum industry activities serving as chairman of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Petroleum Division, member-at-large of the ASME Energy Resources Board, conference chairman of the Energy-sources Technology Conference and Exhibition (ETCE) and organizer and chairman of the ETCE Composite Symposium. He is a fellow of the ASME, fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and recipient of numerous awards for professional service, research, and teaching.