About Us

Our Mission

Our devices reliably measure critical characteristics of distressed or at-risk structures (e.g. crack size, building temperature, vibrations). The most important aspect of our products is that they record data around the clock (24/7/365) autonomously without having to think about it. The data is taken with time reference and stored by the company where it can be managed, analyzed, and correlated with other readings to determine causative factors. Because of the hourly recording of multiple conditions and reactions within a structure, a much clearer picture is available to isolate issues, design problem remedies and in many cases, minimize expensive repairs.

SHDS is located in Baylor University’s Research and Innovation Collaborative and harnesses the combined talents of seasoned industry professionals and student interns to develop new and existing technologies and create commercialization paths for the products that evolve.

Meet Our Team

Will McKerall

Managing Parter

Meet William

Ottis Foster

Partner

Meet Ottis

John Fitch

Operations and Chief Technology Officer 

Meet John

Mike Steward

Chief Information Officer

Meet Mike

Better Data – Better Decisions

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Will McKerall

Managing Partner

Most recently GM of a West Texas Oil Services Company from 2012 to 2016. Served 30 years as a Seabee and Civil Engineer with the US Navy in a variety of engineering and Chief Executive positions culminating as the DoD Director of Infrastructure & Environment in Europe and Africa. Filled numerous Chief Executive Positions from 1998 to 2012 directing annual work volumes exceeding $2B. BS & MS in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M. Registered Professional Engineer. Published in ASTM and ACI Journals.

Meet Ottis

Partner

Worked in the Waco/Central Texas area in Geotechnical Engineering and Construction Materials Testing with Trinity Engineering, Tejas Soils Engineering, Fugro, Kleinfelder, and Langerman Foster Engineering Company (Co-Founder) consecutively from 1983 to 2019.

Executive Director, Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2009 and 2010

Co-Founder, Structural Health Data Systems (SHDS), 2016

Long-time member of ASCE and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), serving in various officer capacities.  Long-time member of the Economic Development Corporation, City of McGregor.  Co-Chair of the McGregor Vision 2030 strategic plan.  BS Civil Engineering from UT El Paso in 1982, Texas PE license in 1987, Master of Urban Affairs from UT Arlington in 1991.

John Fitch

Operations and Chief Technology Officer

 

President of Birkeland Current, a technology development company housed in the BRIC and founded in 2010. MS in Space Physics from Rice. Multiple positions with technology leaders focusing on 3D solid modeling, product data management, integrated design and analysis, rapid prototyping, and design to manufacturing. Industry leader in Six Sigma especially as it applies to analyzing complex programs and developing transformational product improvement to quality and resourcing. Most recently led L-3’s R & D Division that identified and rapidly developed emerging technologies in areas such as high performance computing, nanotechnology, advanced composites, remote asset tracking, and cognitive enhancements. Started Birkeland Current in 2010 to privately reconstitute L3’s Advanced Concepts R&D model.

Mike Steward

Chief Information Officer

 

Principal partner of Birkeland Current. BS in Mathematics and MBA from Baylor. Worked with Texas Life Insurance Co. for 35 years serving over 20 years as Chief Information Officer. Joined with John in 2014 to develop user software with Birkeland Current.