Omar Flores has been named chief of the Survivability Engineering Branch of the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Flores began his ERDC career as a student intern through the University of Puerto Rico- Mayagüez summer program. He was subsequently hired as a research structural engineer in the Survivability Engineering Branch where he conducted weapon effects mitigation research in support of the Physical Screening Protection - Rapid Technology Transition Project, Defeat of Emerging Adaptive Threats ATO, and Deployable Force Protection Program. Prior to accepting the role of acting chief, Flores served as a code four supervisor and the manager for the Army-sponsored Force Protection Basing Work Package.
“The Survivability Engineering Branch is passionate about the research we do to develop state-of-the-art protective schemes for our men and women in the armed forces. It is an honor and a privilege to be selected as chief and to lead our team of engineers, scientists, technicians and administrative personnel in advancing ERDC’s support to the Warfighter with survivability and force protection engineering solutions for current and future conflicts,” Flores said.
He earned his bachelor’s and master’s in civil engineering from UPRM, and is pursuing a doctorate in civil engineering from Mississippi State University.
Flores has been the author or co-author of numerous technical publications, a member of a team receiving a patent on a critical technology, and recognized with many awards including the 2012 Army Research and Development Achievement Award for outstanding technical achievement.
GSL Director Bartley P. Durst said in his announcement, “I’m very proud of Omar Flores as ERDC's newest branch chief. I’m also very confident in him to lead the Survivability Engineering Branch into the future and enable an environment for success for our team and our mission that is making this world safer and better.”