 He is the former president of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors (1999) and of the Geographic and Land Information Society (2005).He attended Hurlstone Agricultural High School, Glenfield, New South Wales, Australia, graduating in 1971.He received his Bachelor of Surveying, School of Surveying, University of New South Wales, Australia, in 1978
and his Master of Surveying Science, School of Surveying, University of New South Wales, Australia, also in 1987.