Wright State Dean Timothy Bunning inducted into National Academy of Engineering

Timothy Bunning is interim dean of Wright State’s College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Timothy J. Bunning, Ph.D., interim dean of Wright State University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for pioneering research that uses liquid crystal materials to control light for commercial and defense applications.

Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional honors for engineers, recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice or education.

Bunning was among 158 new members recognized at the academy’s annual meeting on Oct. 3 in Washington, D.C.

He was elected for research conducted at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), where he retired last year after a distinguished 35-year career.

Before retiring from AFRL, he served as chief technology officer, overseeing a workforce of nearly 6,000 people across nine technology directorates and the 711th Human Performance Wing.

Bunning described his election to the National Academy of Engineering as a professional pinnacle and credited the colleagues who contributed to his successful career.

“Personally and professionally, this recognition is a testament to the extraordinary ecosystem at the Air Force Research Laboratory and the brilliant colleagues, mentors and partners I have had the privilege to work alongside throughout my career,” he said.

Timothy Bunning was elected to the National Academy of Engineering during its annual meeting on Oct. 3 in Washington, D.C.

Bunning also hopes the recognition inspires students to see engineering as a field rooted in purpose, problem-solving and collaboration.

“The true key to impact lies in teamwork: learning how to collaborate, compromise, listen and thrive within dynamic teams where shared ideas drive progress,” he said.

Bunning added that the honor reinforces his belief that a career dedicated to service brings personal and professional fulfillment. That commitment continues in his role at Wright State, where he works with faculty and staff to prepare students to meet emerging workforce needs.

“Service takes many forms — whether advancing technical innovation for national security at AFRL or educating and empowering the next generation of engineering talent here at Wright State,” he said. “As interim dean, I want this recognition to underscore our commitment to cultivating the adaptable, high-impact workforce that our region and nation urgently need in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.”

Bunning is a prolific materials scientist whose research focuses on soft matter materials and their application in photonics. He has written more than 325 peer-reviewed publications, given hundreds of technical lectures and holds 18 patents.

He is a fellow of seven major scientific societies, including the American Chemical Society, the American Physical Society, the Materials Research Society, the Optical Society of America and SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics.

Bunning earned his Ph.D., master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Connecticut and conducted his doctoral research in the AFRL labs at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.