Technical Staff

David K. Irick, PhD, PE - University of Tennessee -Principal Investigator

Professor Irick, is a faculty member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Tennessee where he leads the automotive engineering research and teaching activities. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, a senior member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Tennessee. Dr. Irick has over 25 years industrial experience in design and manufacturing. He currently serves as Director of the UTK Graduate Automotive Technology Education Center. He also serves as faculty advisor for the University's participation in the U. S. Department of Energy's Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions and the SAE student chapter. His teaching and research includes internal combustion engines, vehicle systems, computer integrated engineering and manufacturing.

Lawrence A. Hendrix - Vice President of Technology Development

    Mr. Hendrix is one of the Co-inventors of the Legacy Engine. He has a very broad background in conceptual design and product development in electronics and mechanical designs. He has a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee and has worked for aerospace, research, manufacturing, and small business ventures. He has been directly involved in addressing the issues concerned with improving Wankel engine performance for racing applications.  

Vitcheslav Naoumov, Ph.D., Dr. Sc. - University of Tennessee - Research Staff

         Dr. Naoumov is a visiting scholar in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering at The University of Tennessee. He is a Professor and former Department Head in the Department of Engines, Institute of Aviation, Land Transport and Power Engineering, and the former Dean of the College of Aircraft and Rocket Engines at Kazan State Technical University in Kazan, Russia. He has authored three monographs (4th is in process), more than 80 journal articles, conference papers and proceedings, and more than 30 research contractor and scientific grant reports. Dr. Naoumov has over 20 years experience in the area of modeling and simulation of the chemical non-equilibrium combustion and fluid flow in propulsion and power generation systems. He collaborated with SAAB in the development of powerful models for the simulation and prediction of combustion and non-equilibrium ionization in SI engines.