Short Bio:
Major William “Billy” Schmidt graduated in May 2023 with a Master of Science degree in nuclear engineering with a specialization in nuclear nonproliferation from Texas A&M University. He attended Texas A&M as an active-duty officer in the United States Army utilizing the Army’s Advance Civil Schooling program. His research, conducted under the guidance of Center of Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives (NSSPI) Interim Director Dr. Marianno, explored the efficacy of using Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) on large-volume polyvinyl toluene (PVT) scintillator detectors, aiming to enhance the technology used in portal monitors used for detecting the smuggling of radioactive materials. Before pursuing his graduate studies at Texas A&M, Schmidt completed his undergraduate education at the United States Military Academy (USMA), where he majored in Physics and minored in Nuclear Technology and Policy Studies, a minor offered for the first time during his tenure. Schmidt takes pride in being the first USMA graduate to complete this minor. He served as an Engineer officer in the United States Army for nine years before joining NSSPI. After graduation, he will return to the USMA at West Point to serve as an instructor in the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, affectionately known as the House of PaNE.
NSSPI Publications:
- W. Schmidt, "Testing the Benefits of Using Silicon Photomultipliers on Organic Scintillator Portal Monitors", M.S. Thesis, Nuclear Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX (2024).