TEES Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center-TAMU

What TEES Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center-TAMU does

TEES Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center (MKOPSC) is a university-based research and education center established in 1995 at Texas A&M University under the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), a state government entity. The center was founded by T. Michael O'Connor in memory of his late wife Mary Kay O'Connor, an operations superintendent killed in the 1989 Phillips Petroleum explosion in Pasadena, TX. Operating under the leadership of Director Dr. Faisal Khan (appointed December 2021) and Associate Director Dr. Rouzbeh Abbassi, the center conducts process safety engineering research, education, and service for the oil & gas, chemical, petrochemical, and broader process industries. Activities are governed by a Steering Committee of consortium member companies and a Technical Advisory Committee of industry experts.\n\nThe center's core technology portfolio includes specialized process safety testing equipment — the APTAC (Automatic Pressure-Tracking Adiabatic Calorimeter), of which only 10 exist in the US; the RC1 Reaction Calorimeter, the only one of its kind in academia; a 36L Dust Explosion Vessel; an RSST (Reactive System Screening Tool); an aerosol testing apparatus with Malvern Laser Diffraction Particle Analyzers; a lab-scale high expansion foam generator for cryogenic flammable liquids such as LNG; a Cone Calorimeter; an LOI Analyzer; and two GC-MS units. Research spans flammability, LNG safety, explosions, reactive chemicals, dispersion analysis, offshore safety, inherent safety, data analytics, human factors, quantitative risk assessment, safety climate, reliability and maintenance, abnormal situation management, and resilient engineered systems. The center maintains a reference library of 15,000 books and 15,000 articles, supports approximately 200 MS/PhD alumni with 50–100 currently enrolled students, and has trained more than 3,000 chemical engineering students over two decades.\n\nThe center's business model combines four revenue streams: (1) consortium membership fees from 35+ industry companies at Partner, Sponsor, Associate, and Individual tiers (Aramco, BP, Chevron, Dow, ExxonMobil, Shell, Sabic, Phillips 66, Occidental Petroleum, Woodside, Lubrizol, Samsung, CCPS, GexCon, Quest Consultants, SIS TECH, Institute for Homeland Security, and others); (2) education and training programs — the Safety Engineering Certificate (undergraduate 15 hours, graduate 12 hours), the Process Safety Practice Certificate for industry professionals (~$5,400–$6,470 for 125 PDHs over three years), and SENG continuing education courses at $1,800 per semester-long course (42 PDHs); (3) research grants and contracts from government agencies and industry sponsors; and (4) the Annual Process Safety Symposium attracting over 600 international attendees, plus the 2026 Mary Kay O'Connor Safety & Risk Conference co-hosted with IChemE.

Name

TEES Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center-TAMU

Legal name

Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center – Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station

Website

https://psc.tamu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Short description

TEES Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center is a Texas A&M University research and education center advancing process safety engineering through MS/PhD programs, professional certificates, industry-sponsored research, and an annual symposium for the oil & gas, chemical, and petrochemical industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Process Safety Engineering Education & Research Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Machine Safety, Guarding & Industrial Equipment Safety (EDABAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM), Safety Instrumented Systems & Machine Safety Control (SIS, Safety PLCs, Relays) (IMAGABAF)

Keywords

• Process safety engineering
• Process safety research
• Safety engineering education
• Chemical process safety
• Risk assessment consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

College Station

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Consortium Membership Fees: Companies join the MKOPSC consortium as Partner, Sponsor, Associate, or Individual members, providing financial support to the center. The consortium was established to support education and research on health, safety and environmental effects of products and processes, aligned with Responsible Care guiding principles.
2. Education and Training Programs: Revenue from Safety Engineering Certificate programs (undergraduate and graduate), Process Safety Practice Certificate for industry professionals (approximately $5,400-$6,470), and continuing education courses (SENG courses at $1,800 per semester-long course, 42 PDHs).
3. Research Grants and Contracts: Funded research from government agencies and industry sponsors. Students receive stipends and tuition support. Center provides consultation services for small and medium enterprises, government agencies, institutions, and local emergency planning committees.
4. Annual Symposium: The center hosts an Annual Process Safety Symposium attracting over 600 individuals from industry, government, and academia from around the globe. Revenue generated through registration and sponsorships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center is a university-based research and education center that integrates process safety into learning and practice through academic degree programs (MS in Safety Engineering, PhD in Process Safety/Risk Management), professional certificates (Safety Engineering Certificate and Process Safety Practice Certificate), continuing education courses, applied research and consulting services, and an annual international symposium. Activities are guided by an industry consortium of more than 35 process industry companies and serve industry, government, academia, and the public.

Product overview

The Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center is a university-based research and education center that operates as a unified academic and professional development institution rather than a commercial product company. Its portfolio consists of academic degree programs (Master of Science in Safety Engineering, PhD in Process Safety/Risk Management), professional certificates (Safety Engineering Certificate for students and Process Safety Practice Certificate for industry professionals), continuing education courses (SENG courses offering PDHs), and research services including consultation and accident analysis. The center hosts the annual Process Safety Symposium attracting international attendees. All offerings integrate process safety education, research, and service into engineering practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Safety Engineering Certificate Program A multidisciplinary certificate program for undergraduate (15 credit hours) and graduate (12 credit hours) students in any engineering discipline at Texas A&M University, exposing students to principles and case histories of safety, health, and environmental engineering with emphasis on interdisciplinary topics.
• Master of Science in Safety Engineering A graduate degree program administered by the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University that teaches principles and practices of safety engineering for leadership careers in industry, academia, and government. Requires a Bachelor Degree in Engineering as a prerequisite.
• PhD in Process Safety and Risk Management A doctoral program allowing students in any discipline to pursue a PhD focusing on process safety and/or risk management. PhD candidates receive stipends with tuition and most fees paid. Most pursue Chemical Engineering degrees.
• Process Safety Practice Certificate for Industry Professionals A professional certificate for industry practitioners seeking in-depth knowledge of process safety. Requires 125 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) within a three-year timeframe. Can be earned fully online via SENG courses or through the center's International Annual Symposium. Approximate cost $5,400-$6,470.
• Continuing Education Courses (SENG Courses) Online and on-site continuing education classes taught by experienced engineers with industrial, chemical, research, and process safety knowledge. Courses include SENG 655 Process Safety Engineering (42 PDHs), SENG 660 Advanced Risk Engineering, SENG 430 Risk Analysis Engineering, and other safety-focused semester-long courses at $1,800 per course.
• Process Safety Research and Consulting Services Consultation and applied research services for small and medium enterprises, government agencies, institutions, Local Emergency Planning Committees, and others. Includes independent accident analysis services for industry and government agencies. Research areas include flammability, explosions, reactive chemicals, LNG safety, offshore safety, quantitative risk assessment, and machine learning for process safety performance indicators.
• Annual Process Safety Symposium (MKOPSC International Symposium) Annual international symposium attracting over 600 individuals from industry, government, and academia globally. Includes the 2026 Mary Kay O'Connor Safety & Risk Conference themed 'Safe & Responsible AI: Innovation with Integrity' held in association with IChemE.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 chemical engineering students supported in education over two decades
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AramcocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Partner Level consortium member providing industry guidance and financial support to the center. Represents Saudi Aramco, the national petroleum company of Saudi Arabia.
• BPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Partner Level consortium member. bp company Archaea Energy is represented on the Steering Committee. Samantha Scruggs (Director of Process Safety, Archaea Energy, a bp company) serves as Steering Committee Chair.
• ChevroncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Partner Level consortium member. Steering Committee representative: Ellen Ross.
• Dow ChemicalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Partner Level consortium member. Steering Committee representative: Rob Bellair.
• ExxonMobilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Partner Level consortium member. Technical Advisory Committee representative: Kelly Keim (ExxonMobil - Retired).
• IChemEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Partner Level consortium member. Co-sponsor of 2026 Mary Kay O'Connor Safety & Risk Conference. The Institution of Chemical Engineers is a global professional engineering institution for chemical engineers.
• ShellcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Partner Level consortium member. Steering Committee representative: Kiran Krishna. Technical Advisory Committee representative: Mary Gerschefski.
• SabiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Partner Level consortium member. Steering Committee representative: Mickeale Johnson.
• WoodsidecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Partner Level consortium member. Steering Committee representative: Fabiana Weber.
• LubrizolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Partner Level consortium member. Steering Committee representatives: Melissa Lovett and Andre Da Costa.
• Occidental PetroleumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Partner Level consortium member. Steering Committee representatives: Mark Slezak and Cindy Wei.
• Phillips 66coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Partner Level consortium member. Steering Committee representative: Irina Kopponen and Jennifer Czak.
• Institute for Homeland SecuritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Partner Level consortium member. Representatives: Scott McHugh, Michael Aspland, Ryan Randa.
• CCPS (Center for Chemical Process Safety)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Associate Level consortium member. Affiliated with AIChE. Samantha Scruggs (bp) serves on CCPS Planning Board (2023) and CCPS Technical Steering Committee (since 2016).
• SamsungcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Sponsor Level consortium member. Technical Advisory Committee representative: Mike Stone.
• GexConcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Associate Level consortium member. Engineering and software company specializing in safety and risk analysis. Steering Committee representative: Scott Davis.
• Viking EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Associate Level consortium member.
• Knowledge One, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Associate Level consortium member. Steering Committee representative: Jack Chosnek. Technical Advisory Committee representative: Jane Wang.
• Quest ConsultantscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Associate Level consortium member. Steering Committee representative: Jeff Marx. Technical Advisory Committee representative: Jeff Marx.
• SIS TECHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Associate Level consortium member. Steering Committee representative: Angela Summers.
• MES InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Associate Level consortium member.
• TSGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Associate Level consortium member. Steering Committee representative: Tom Shephard (Individual member).
• Texas A&M University QatarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Satellite center relationship. Dr. Ioannis Economou from Texas A&M University at Qatar is listed as a former visiting scholar. LNG safety project collaboration noted in newsletter archives.
• University of PatrascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Academic partner. Dr. Maria Papadaki from University of Patras serves as Faculty Associate, with research interests in process safety and runaway reactions, kinetic studies, and process risk analysis.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ioMosaic: Process safety consulting firm providing process safety management, reactive chemistry, and quantitative risk services; maintains the Process Safety Office educational offerings. Directly comparable to MKOPSC's research and consulting mission.
• Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS): AIChE-affiliated industry consortium that defines process safety standards, guidelines, and certification pathways worldwide. CCPS is the center's closest sibling in mission — both serve as industry-academic process safety hubs, and CCPS is itself an MKOPSC Associate Member, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Quest Consultants: Engineering consultancy focused on consequence analysis, risk assessment, and LNG safety studies. Already an MKOPSC Associate Member with seats on the Steering and Technical Advisory Committees, indicating direct competitive overlap in specialty LNG and risk engineering services.
• SIS Tech Solutions: Process safety and instrumented protective systems consultancy led by Angela Summers, a recognized SIS expert. Already an MKOPSC Associate Member and overlaps directly on safety instrumented systems design and process safety consulting.
• GexCon: Engineering and software firm specializing in safety and risk analysis, dispersion modeling, and explosion consequence assessment (FLACS, FRED). GexCon is an MKOPSC Associate Member and operates in the same scientific niche of consequence and explosion safety research.
• Chilworth Technology (DEKRA Process Safety): Process safety laboratory and consultancy (now part of DEKRA) offering dust explosibility testing, chemical reactivity testing, and process safety training. Overlaps directly with MKOPSC's flammability, dust explosion, and reactive chemistry services.
• BakerRisk: Independent consultancy delivering process safety, risk management, explosion testing, and incident investigation services globally. Operates its own explosion test facilities, paralleling MKOPSC's advanced experimental equipment base.

Broad incumbents

• DNV: Global assurance and risk management firm with a large process safety practice (Phast, Safeti consequence modeling) and significant industry training programs. Operates across many domains, so the process safety overlap is partial but materially comparable in consulting/training reach.
• ABS Group: Subsidiary of ABS providing risk and reliability consulting, including process safety management, asset integrity, and incident investigation. Comparable to MKOPSC on industrial risk consulting but operates across broader offshore/maritime domains.
• Jensen Hughes: Global engineering and consulting firm with deep process safety, fire protection, and risk practice serving oil & gas and chemical clients. Wide portfolio and global footprint make it a comparable but broader incumbent versus MKOPSC's narrower specialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/mkopsc
• Facebookfacebook.com/MKOPSCTAMU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tees-mary-kay-o-connor-process-safety-center-tamu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TEES Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center-TAMU