John Junkins
John L. Junkins (born May 23, 1943) is an American academic and a distinguished professor of aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University specializing in spacecraft navigation, guidance, dynamics, and control. He holds the Royce E. Wisenbaker Endowed Chair at Texas A&M University and also serves as the Founding Director of the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study at Texas A&M University, since its founding in December 2010. On November 24, 2020, Junkins was announced as the interim President of Texas A&M University starting January 2021. He was the interim president until May 31, 2021.
John L. Junkins | |
|---|---|
| Interim President of Texas A&M University | |
| In office January 1, 2021 – May 31, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Michael K. Young |
| Succeeded by | M. Katherine Banks |
| Director of the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study | |
| Assumed office 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 23, 1943 Oakman, Georgia, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Elouise Click (m. 1965) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | See list |
| Academic background | |
| Education |
|
| Thesis | On the Determination and Optimization of Powered Space Vehicle Trajectories Using Parametric Differential Correction Processes (1969) |
| Doctoral advisor | Samuel Herrick |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions |
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The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on March 5, 2021, named M. Katherine Banks as the sole finalist to be president of Texas A&M University. On May 27, 2021, Junkins issued a farewell message welcoming his successor as the 26th President of Texas A&M University. After his term as interim president, he returned to his positions as professor in the College of Engineering and continues as the director of the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study.