After a 15 year career as a material scientist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Ray went into composites manufacturing and built fiberglass pools, but his experience base goes well beyond that. Since 1999, he has participated in ANSI/APSP writing committees for national residential and public standards, along with ANSI standards for suction entrapment avoidance. He continues his scientific passion with studies on water circulation, energy efficiency, and suction outlet safety.
Ray earned his bachelor of science in chemistry from the University of Alabama, Huntsville (UAH). During graduate studies he was on of 104 students from 20 countries selected to attend the inaugural session of the International Space University hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Ray has continued his studies, earning a Certified Building Professional certification. He is also a Certified Composites Technician - Instructor (CCT-I).