John S. Tomblin

John Tomblin is the Senior Vice President for Industry and Defense Programs at Wichita State University (WSU) and the Executive Director of the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). He is also a Sam Bloomfield Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering.

As Executive Director of NIAR, Dr. Tomblin oversees eighteen laboratories in four locations encompassing 1 million square feet, 650 employees and a yearly budget of nearly $ 95 million. Under his leadership, NIAR has gained worldwide recognition in the area of composites and advanced materials; greatly expanded its capabilities and footprint; and nearly tripled its yearly funding.

NIAR currently has a number of DoD contracts and grants researching certification framework for enabling advanced materials and structural concepts for automated manufacturing, digital twin technologies for rapid sustainment of legacy aircraft and emerging materials for high-speed missile applications as well as multiple programs from DoD industrial suppliers and original equipment manufacturers.

Dr. Tomblin received his Ph.D., master’s degree and bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV.