SOCORRO, N.M. – New Mexico Tech broke new ground this year with a completely online commencement ceremony. Unfortunately, some of the usual features of the event were omitted due to time constraints and technical challenges.

One of the important presentations left out was the awarding of an honorary doctorate to preeminent explosives scientist Paul Cooper, the author of influential text books, “Explosives Engineering” and “Introduction to the Technology of Explosives.”

University President Dr. Stephen Wells met with Cooper at his home in Albuquerque in early January 2020 to present Cooper with his honorary degree. Dr. Wells was accompanied by several faculty, staff, and administrators.

NMT Mechanical Engineering Professor Dr. Michael Hargather nominated Cooper for the honorary degree and championed the cause. NMT received seven letters of support from engineers from around the nation.

Cooper worked at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque for 37 years before retiring in 2012. Throughout his career, he presented numerous technical, engineering, and safety courses and has acted as a general consultant in explosives technology, safety and security matters for various government departments and agencies. Much of his interagency activity involved investigation of accidents involving explosives and explosions. Consulting clients, present and former, include the FBI, Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Energy, many private engineering firms, consultants, and law firms.

Cooper graduated from the NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering in 1959 with a bachelor’s in chemical engineering. He worked at Illinois Institute of Technology for seven years before accepting a position at Sandia National Laboratories. His seminal text books were both published in 1996, well after he had already established a reputation as a world-leading expert. Over the decades, he developed a strong relationship with NMT faculty members and students.

(Pictured at right is University President Dr. Stephen Wells with Paul Cooper.)

Hargather said, “Mr. Cooper has always maintained a positive relationship with New Mexico Tech and the Mechanical Engineering Department. He was helpful in the foundation of the explosives program at NMT and has maintained interactions with the department.”

Cooper presented numerous seminars at NMT in the Mechanical Engineering Department, which are always widely attended and some of the favorites of the students in the department, Hargather said. He has served on master’s thesis committees at NMT, and also attended graduate master’s presentations.

“Through his involvement in committees he is a true resource to the students and always provides insightful comments,” Hargather said in his nomination letter.

(Pictured at right are Paul Cooper and NMT representativary. Standing, from left, are President Wells, Kyle Winter (Mechanical Engineering PhD student), Dr. Bin Lim, Dr. Andrei Zagrai, Stewart Youngblood (Mechanical Engineering PhD Student), Dr Doug Wells, and Dr. Michael Hargather. In front are Dr. Chelsey Hargather, Paul Cooper, and Veronica Espinoza (student regent and Mechanical Engineering PhD student).

“When I have met with Mr. Cooper over the past six years, whether it be at Sandia for explosive testing or at his house for dinner, he always asks about my students. He asks about the new science and wants to be updated on the newest thoughts in the field and where the research is going.”

Dr. Kirk Yeager, the FBI Chief Explosives Scientist, wrote that, “There is no name as universally loved and revered as Paul Cooper. Paul has increased the knowledge base in our field tremendously. He has given back in terms of education, training, expert opinion, and research at a level that far exceeds a mere PhD. There is no explosive scientist anywhere in the United States, or world in my opinion, I can think of more deserving of this Honorary Doctorate.”

Cooper assisted the FBI with many high-profile investigations, including the downed TWA Flight 800, and the bombing of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City.

Jerry Stofleth, scientist at Sandia National Lab, was one of many young engineers who Cooper mentored over the years. In his letter of support, Stofleth compared Cooper’s publications to poetry.

“I can say without hesitation that Paul Cooper has been the most influential person in my professional life,” Stofleth said. “I truly stand on the shoulders of giants in the field of explosive engineering – those shoulders are Paul Cooper’s.”

Don Carlucci, U.S. Army Senior Research Scientist, wrote that, “From talking to him, you would never know that he DID NOT have a Ph.D. ... I know a lot of Ph.D.’s who can’t hold a candle to what Paul knows or has accomplished (myself included).”

– NMT –