vachon further continued his studies at the oklahoma state university, where he obtained his ph.d. in mechanical engineering in 1963. in 1969 he would also obtained his bachelor of laws at the thomas goode jones school of law. in the maintime vachon had started his academic career at the auburn university in 1958 as research assistant, became research associate in 1963, and was associate professor from 1963 to 1978.