BS, Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, 1982; M.A., Procurement and Acquisition Management, Webster University, St. Louis, 1991; M.S., Software Systems Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, 1992; Ph.D., Business Administration specializing in MIS, Florida State University, 2003. Dr. Ayres' research interests include management of complex systems, model-based systems engineering, and space systems engineering. He is a member of the International Council on Systems Engineering and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.