AUSTIN, TX – February 10, 2026 – Signature Science, LLC is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Ben H. Thacker, P.E. to its Managers Committee following his appointment as Southwest Research Institute’s Chief Operating Officer.
Dr. Thacker brings nearly four decades of both scientific and leadership experience to the position, having joined Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in 1988. Dr. Thacker has made significant contributions throughout his technical engineering career, including his critical support of NASA’s Return to Flight program following the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy. Immediately prior to his recent promotion to COO, Dr. Thacker served as Vice President of the Institute’s Mechanical Engineering Division.
“We congratulate Dr. Thacker on his well-deserved promotion at SwRI, and we could not be happier to have him join our Managers Committee,” said Brian Schimmoller, President and CEO of Signature Science. “Dr. Thacker’s strategic vision and operational expertise will be invaluable to the continued growth of both SwRI and Signature Science.”
About Signature Science, LLC:
A subsidiary of Southwest Research Institute, Signature Science, LLC is a scientific and technical consulting firm providing multi-disciplinary applied research, technology design and development, and scientific, technical, and operational services to government and industry.