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beneficence and mercy that has made this goal attainable. I am extremely grateful to my parents (Thomas and Frances Kenon) and my brother (Thomas) for loving me unconditionally and supporting me regardless of what path I have taken. I thank my parents for starting me on the path to have a love for learning and always providing an environment conducive to my growth and development. I would like to thank Peter Allain for being the best mentor that a young engineer could ever have. Your constant support has been immeasurable. Charles, David, Kimberly, Trini, Jodi, Toni and Tina (my LADOTD family), thank you all for your constant words of encouragement, smiles, and concern. You all will always be in my heart. A special word of thanks to the Askins, Holliday and Haney families. Thank you for accepting me as your own. What we have is better by far because we have bonds of the heart. Last but not least, thank you to Profs. Wilmot, Wolshon and Ishak. You all are wonderful professors and have made this journey the best. Prof. Wilmot, thank you for you time an