From a young age, Thomas Ira Nixon has always been known as an imaginative engineer. However, it wasn’t until 15 years ago that he fully embraced his creativity and embarked on the journey of building his very first R2 droid. From that moment on, Thomas knew that his purpose was to inspire young minds and encourage them to never stop dreaming and exploring the limitless possibilities of creative engineering and technology.
Throughout the years, Thomas has had the privilege of visiting individuals from all walks of life. Whether it be children battling cancer, students in classrooms, or attendees at weddings and Comic-Con events, his main goal has always been to inspire others. He has constructed numerous droids, including three R2s, a BB8, a K2SO, and even a fully functional Wall-e. It is worth noting that most of these creations were built before the advent of 3D printers.
Between 2019 and 2021, Thomas and his closest friend took on the challenge of constructing the Solo movie version of the Millennium Falcon cockpit. This ambitious project spanned over two years and involved designing, constructing, and 3D printing every single part. The journey was nothing short of incredible and allowed them to bring the Falcon to life. Thomas even took it a step further by designing and scratch building the digital display panels, as well as creating 3D animations.
Over the years, Thomas has had the opportunity to design parts and accessories for cosplay artists, film productions, and special effects companies. His main mentor, who was involved with model designing and special effects in the original Star Wars trilogy, inspired him to push his creativity to new heights. This led Thomas to start making functional devices out of Star Wars props, which he affectionately named Thomas Nixons – Really2Robots. One notable creation was his entry into the SW Andor Challenge Panel, where he showcased his functional holographic display.
If there’s one message that Thomas wants people to take away from his journey, it’s the importance of never giving up on one’s dreams, no matter how unconventional they may seem. With determination, creativity, and a willingness to think outside the box, anything is possible.
Currently, Thomas serves on the Executive Team and as the Creative Engineer for the TSJ Foundation. He is responsible for building incredible projects, including a two-way hologram communication system that will be utilized in the foundation’s education and mobile entertainment programs. Thomas brings a remarkable set of skills to the foundation, and he recently partnered with “The Project X1” after successfully building “The Swedish Falcon.” The new home location for The Swedish Falcon is in Germany, which opens up endless possibilities for future events in Europe and other parts of the world, pending approval from Disney and LFL. This partnership also allows for the pooling of resources to create even more impressive projects. Together, Thomas and The Project X1 have already booked numerous exciting events for 2023.
Thomas Nixon’s accomplishments in building impressive projects like the Falcon may overshadow his lesser-known work. In fact, Thomas began his career as a male nurse before transitioning to become a pedagogical educator at the prestigious Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. His primary role involves educating teachers and lecturers on the process of digitalizing traditional course materials and curriculums, with the aim of creating a more diverse and sustainable future.
Thomas’s expertise in this field is evident through his contributions to the development and publication of educational content on their Learning Management System (LMS). With the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in various sectors, the introduction of this technology has necessitated a significant evolution in course curriculums. Thomas is at the forefront of this transformation, ensuring that educators are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to adapt to this new era of education.
