The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) lately inducted Timothy Bunning, a three-time UConn College of Engineering alum and high-impact supplies analysis engineer.
Bunning joins 9 different UConn Engineering alumni who’ve been inducted into the NAE for excellent engineering contributions in enterprise, training, analysis, authorities, and different organizations.
Election to the National Academy of Engineering is amongst the highest skilled distinctions accorded to an engineer, in response to NAE.
Bunning was the Chief Technology Officer for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) earlier than his current retirement.
Bunning says the honor was surprising.
“My gratitude goes to all those who have worked with me through the years,” Bunning says. “I have had the opportunity to collaborate with many and any success I have had in my career is due to them. I am happy for AFRL to be recognized as there is tremendous individual engineering talent within the AFRL ecosystem.”
He obtained his 1987 B.S., 1988 M.S., and 1992 Ph.D. levels in chemical engineering and supplies science from UConn.
“UConn helped me tremendously become independent minded,” Bunning says.
Bunning stated his curiosity in analysis was piqued as an undergraduate pupil when he had two analysis alternatives.
“I spent most of my Ph.D. research time in Ohio while a student at UConn,” Bunning says. “This ‘separation’ caused me to become very independent, taught me to how to get stuff done on my own, taught me how to ask for help. It shaped my ‘team-centric’ mentality necessary to solve complex engineering problems. It taught me how to communicate with those not in my area of expertise. This ability to effectively communicate has been the foundation for any success I have ever had.”
As the major science and expertise adviser to the AFRL Commander, Bunning is accountable for aiding with the planning and execution of an annual $3.5 billion Air Force science and expertise program. He serves as the corporate-level science and expertise interface for a authorities workforce of practically 6,000 folks in the laboratory’s 9 expertise directorates and 711th Human Performance Wing.
Bunning is a Fellow of AFRL, the Optical Society of America, the Society of Optical Engineering, the American Physical Society, the American Chemical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Materials Research Society and the Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering Division of ACS. He has co-authored greater than 300 refereed papers and 130 proceedings, has edited a number of books, and holds 18 patents.
“It has been an honor and pleasure to collaborate with Timothy Bunning through our work with the Air Force Research Laboratory,” says interim provost and government vp for educational affairs Pamir Alpay. “He is a world-class expert in the field of photonic and electro-optical properties of polymers and liquid crystals. Tim’s research has improved manufacturing technologies in aerospace, as well as development of materials for advanced sensing in extreme environments. I am proud of his achievements and congratulate him on his well-deserved election to the National Academy of Engineering.”
His analysis pursuits in the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, half of the AFRL, are centered on the optical, electro-optical, and photo-optical efficiency of structured polymeric and liquid crystalline supplies. Central analysis areas embody the growth of 1-, 2-, and 3-D switchable polymeric diffractive constructions utilizing advanced holographic photopolymerization methods, growth of novel polymeric skinny movies utilizing plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, phototunable supplies primarily based on azo-materials together with skinny movie actuators, and phototunable cholesteric LC supplies.
“Timothy Bunning’s induction into NAE together with eight other UConn alums underscores the tremendous impact of UConn Engineering alumni on our society,” says UConn Engineering Dean JC Zhao. “They are also a testament of the high-quality engineering education UConn proudly provides.”
Previous UConn Engineering alumni who’re NAE members embody:
- James E. Barger (M.S. mechanical engineering ‘60) is a distinguished engineer acknowledged for his contributions to particular fields in engineering. Barger was elected to the NAE in 2011 for his management at Raytheon BBN Technologies and affect throughout communications and protection applied sciences. His election highlighted his position advancing interdisciplinary engineering options at the intersection of analysis and real-world programs, and was particularly cited “for applications of acoustic technology and engineering solutions for the benefit of national security and society.”
- Dennis M. Bushnell (B.S. mechanical engineering ’63) is a visionary aeronautical engineer and longtime Chief Scientist at NASA’s Langley Research Center, the place he directed superior analysis in stream modeling, aerodynamics, and aeronautics. Bushnell’s work on turbulent stream management, drag discount, and high-speed aeronautical ideas has been influential in each aerospace and fluid dynamics. In recognition of his pioneering contributions to aerospace engineering, he was elected to the NAE in 1998 “for viscous flow modeling and control, turbulent drag reduction, and advanced aeronautical concepts.”
- Sharon Nunes (M.S. supplies science ’80, Ph.D. supplies science ’83) is a supplies scientist and company expertise chief famous for her work on sustainable and inexperienced applied sciences. After finishing her graduate levels at UConn, she spent practically three many years at IBM, rising to Vice President of Big Green Innovations the place she led world efforts in renewable power, water administration, and photovoltaics. Nunes additionally launched IBM’s Computational Biology Center and championed range and expertise management initiatives. She was elected to the NAE in 2019 “for corporate leadership in next-generation green technologies, focusing on novel materials and processes.”
- Louis C. Parrillo (B.S. electrical engineering ’64) is an achieved semiconductor technologist and government whose profession spans foundational contributions to built-in circuit machine and fabrication applied sciences. At AT&T Bell Laboratories and later Motorola, he helped develop industry-defining CMOS applied sciences and led superior semiconductor analysis and growth, ultimately serving as Semiconductor Chief Technology Officer. Parrillo’s improvements earned him election to the NAE in 1996 “for contributions to device and fabrication technology for integrated circuits.”
- Thomas W. Prete (B.S. mechanical engineering ’85, MBA ’01) is a senior aerospace engineering chief with Pratt & Whitney, the place he has held roles of rising accountability culminating as Vice President for Military Engines. A UConn mechanical engineering graduate with superior levels from Rensselaer and UConn, Prete has overseen engineering technique and supply for superior navy and industrial plane engines. His management in propulsion system growth and engineering excellence led to his election to the NAE in 2023, particularly “for engineering leadership in developing and fielding advanced aircraft gas turbine engines.”
- Mark P. Sarkisian (B.S. civil engineering ’83) is a world-renowned structural engineer and associate at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. He has designed iconic buildings round the globe, together with supertall towers and complicated seismic constructions, and holds quite a few patents for revolutionary structural programs. Sarkisian’s mix of technical innovation and aesthetic engineering earned him election to the NAE in 2021 “for innovation in efficient and aesthetic design of tall buildings and structures.”
- Kumares C. Sinha (M.S. municipal engineering ’66, Ph.D. civil engineering ’68) is an engineer, researcher and educator recognized for contributions to transportation programs evaluation, transportation infrastructure economics and administration, transportation security, and the use of rising applied sciences in transportation. One of his chief contributions is the growth of an built-in strategy to highway-asset-management primarily based on facility situation modeling, remedy effectiveness and life-cycle costing. He served as a professor of civil engineering at Purdue University. He was elected to the NAE in 2008 “for contributions to the advancement of highway infrastructure engineering and management and to the education of transportation professionals worldwide.”
- Anthony J. DeMaria (B.S. electrical engineering ’56, Ph.D. electrical engineering ’65) was a globally influential laser researcher whose work on picosecond mode-locked lasers reworked optoelectronics and photonics. Born in Italy and raised in Connecticut, DeMaria performed many years of analysis at United Technologies Research Center, the place he superior high-power lasers and ultrafast optics. After founding DeMaria ElectroOptics Systems, he continued to drive innovation in laser programs. He was elected to the NAE in 1976 “for pioneering research in the application of lasers to generate and measure picosecond light pulses.” DeMaria additionally served as president of the Optical Society of America and the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering. DeMaria died in 2025.
- Daniel E. Noble (B.S. electrical engineering ’29) was a pioneering American engineer celebrated for his management in the growth of cell radio and solid-state electronics. A local of Naugatuck, Connecticut, Noble earned his engineering diploma earlier than becoming a member of Motorola in 1940 as Director of Research, the place he led the design of the first sensible backpack FM transmitter-receiver utilized in World War II. He later established Motorola’s solid-state analysis laboratory, laying groundwork for the firm’s semiconductor merchandise. Throughout his profession, Noble held key management roles together with government vice chairman of Motorola and was acknowledged for his contributions with honors reminiscent of the IEEE Edison Medal. He was elected to the NAE in 1968 “for leadership in the development of a wide variety of electronic systems and the design of the first frequency-modulation mobile radio communication system.” Noble died in 1980.