One of the two men attacked in a spray of gunfire in Kuwait City Tuesday was an ISU alumnus.

Michael Rene Pouliot, 46, died from injuries sustained during the attack. Pouliot received his bachelor’s degree in 1978 and his master’s in 1980, both in aerospace engineering, from Iowa State.

Bion Pierson, professor in aerospace engineering, was Pouliot’s major professor during his graduate studies, and taught several of Pouliot’s classes during his undergraduate career. He said he was shocked to learn of Pouliot’s death. “It is a loss of talent,” Pierson said.

He said Pouliot stood out as a talented student even as an undergraduate. “He was an exceptionally bright student, very energetic and very fun to work with,” Pierson said. “It was fun to keep up with him.”

Pouliot was in a car found at an intersection about three miles from Camp Doha, a U.S. military base. The car was driven by David Caraway, a senior software engineer with Tapestry Solutions.

Caraway suffered six gunshot wounds and is currently in stable condition at a Kuwaiti hospital.

Pierson said Pouliot’s master’s degree focused on trajectory optimization.

“He designed and constructed trajectories, how to get from point A to point B,” Pierson said.

He said despite Pouliot’s ambitions he wasn’t abrasive and was very focused.

Pouliot was the co-founder of Tapestry Solutions, a San Diego software company that specializes in military modeling and simulation training tools.

“Kuwait has been receptive to U.S. presence. I don’t think this individual incident would change the already existing tense situation regarding Iraq,” said James McCormick, professor and chairman of political science.

Pierson said he had no idea that Pouliot was in Kuwait. He had kept in touch with Pouliot for about 10 years after he left Iowa State, but lost touch after that.

Pouliot was talented enough to obtain a doctorate, Pierson said. He chose instead to start his career at General Dynamics, which is based in San Diego.

Pouliot, a New Hampshire native, is survived by his wife, Carol Jean Todd Pouliot and two daughters, who live in San Diego, and a brother, Dennis Pouliot, of Hooksett, N.H.

Dennis Pouliot couldn’t be reached for comment.