Shawn has successfully defended his PhD dissertation entitled "Improved understanding and control of magnesium-doped gallium nitride by plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy". His PhD defense committee members included his adviser, Dr. William Alan Doolittle, and professors Dr. Ian Ferguson, Dr. John Cressler, Dr. John Dorsey, and Dr. W. Brent Carter. In the days following Shawn will help with his parent's surprise 40th anniversary party, interview, travel to Europe (Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Croatia), and interview. Shawn is extremely grateful for all of the support from family and friends that made this huge undertaking possible and achievable. His formal graduation will take place August 4th at 3pm at Georgia Tech.