Timothy J. Bunning, retired chief know-how officer on the Air Force Research Laboratory, was named interim dean of Wright State’s College of Engineering and Computer Science.
A former Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) chief has accepted a key schooling position at one of the area’s largest universities.
Wright State University has named Timothy Bunning interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, efficient June 1.
Bunning succeeds Darryl Ahner, who led the college beginning in 2023. In March, Ahner accepted a brand new appointment as the dean of Kennesaw State University’s College of Computing and Software Engineering.
“Dr. Bunning brings truly exceptional credentials to this role,” Provost Jim Denniston stated. “Equally important, he is a people-centric leader with a deep commitment to developing the next generation of scientists and engineers.”
Bunning retired from a 35-year tenure with the AFRL final yr.
In his closing position as chief know-how officer, he acted as the lead science and engineering guide to the AFRL commander. He managed a yearly science and know-how price range of $3.5 billion and directed a staff of roughly 6,000 personnel distributed throughout the 711th Human Performance Wing and 9 know-how directorates.
He additionally beforehand served as chief scientist of the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate.
Bunning has expanded Wright State’s partnership with the AFRL and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, integrating authorities researchers into campus life to collaborate on new applied sciences.
More than 60 AFRL researchers work in Wright State’s Vishal Soin Center for Innovation, and an expanded 2024 settlement provides Air Force personnel entry to laboratories, school rooms and places of work all through the remainder of campus.
This alliance affords college students sensible expertise by analysis and internships whereas constructing a talented expertise pipeline for the area’s know-how workforce.
“As interim dean, Bunning will be positioned to further align the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s research and academic programs with this strategic partnership, expanding opportunities for students and faculty to engage in critical engineering and computer science work,”
Bunning specializes his supplies analysis in delicate matter supplies and their utility within the photonic subject, as properly as novel optical purposes of liquid crystal materials techniques for business and protection purposes.
Over his profession, he has written greater than 325 peer-reviewed publications and given a whole lot of technical lectures. He presently holds 18 patents and is a fellow of seven main scientific societies.
Throughout his profession, he has earned quite a few prestigious awards for his work. Notably, he obtained the Arthur S. Flemming Award, a high distinction for federal engineers and scientists, and he was lately inducted into the National Academy of Engineering – among the many highest skilled distinctions accorded to an engineer.
He earned his doctorate, grasp’s diploma and bachelor’s diploma in chemical engineering from the University of Connecticut and performed his Ph.D. analysis within the AFRL labs.
“I will bring the same type of empowering, bottom-up leadership style that I have employed throughout my career to the College of Engineering and Computer Science and Wright State,” Bunning stated. “As an outsider looking in over the last few years, strategically, I believe the college and Wright State are on a very positive path. My goal is to continue this positive momentum by providing strategic growth recommendations, ultimately to produce graduating students who are well prepared for an ever-increasing technologically rooted world. These students are a key feeder to an incredibly diverse, local technology ecosystem that supports the Dayton area.”
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