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We are professors, research associates, engineers and professionals dedicated
to aviation-related research. We are excited about upcoming breakthroughs.
We are diverse, multicultural, and our experience spans across generations.
Our
reputation for excellence is largely dependent on our people, who, like
our services, are of the highest caliber. These dedicated professionals
represent a wide range of specialized and technical fields, but they share
a common goal by working as a team toward ultimate success.
At
work are approximately 150 full-time staff, 100 student and graduate research
assistants and 60 Wichita
State University faculty researchers, NIAR Fellows and other university
associates. These employees are the reason why NIAR is capable of meeting
the changing needs of both aviation and non-aviation businesses.
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John S. Tomblin, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Sam Bloomfield Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering
Director, Composites & Advanced Materials Laboratory
Director, Structures Laboratory
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, West Virginia University
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, West Virginia University
B.S., Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University
Specializing in: Material Qualification, Advanced Material Insertion,
Composites and Advanced Materials Research.
john.tomblin@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5234 |
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Tom Aldag
Director of Research & Development
B.S., Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University
Mini-MBA – Wichita State University Center for Management
Development
Specializing in: New materials and fabrication methods, Linking
research and development to government and industry needs
thomas.aldag@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5326 |
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John E. Moore
Senior Advisor to the Executive Director
J.D., University of Kentucky College of Law
B.S., Commerce, Washington and Lee University
Specializing
in: Identifying research and strategic opportunities and economic
and workforce development initiatives that can involve NIAR, Interfacing
with elected officials, the aviation industry and academia
john.moore@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5238 |
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Jerry
W. Antes
Director, Operations and Budget
B.S., Accounting, Troy State University
Specializing in: Program Management, Finance, Business, Operating
Budgets, Product and Project Cost Accounting and Product Bid Proposal
Preparation and Pricing.
jerry.antes@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5888 |
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Tracee
Friess
Marketing & Communication
B.A., Communication, Wichita State University
Specializing in: Newsletters, Annual Report and other Publication
Production, Public Relations, Website Development, Trade Show Coordination,
Tours
tracee.friess@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5597 |

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Dwight
A. Burford, Ph.D.
Director, Advanced Joining & Processing Laboratory
Senior Research Scientist
Ph.D., Metallurgical
Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
M.S., Metallurgical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
B.S., Metallurgical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
Specializing in: Friction Stir Welding/Processing, Metallurgical
Engineering and Failure Analysis.
dwight.burford@wichita.edu
(316) 978-3204 |
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Brian
M. Brown
Associate Director, CAD/CAM Laboratory
B.S., Aerospace
Engineering, Wichita State University
Specializing in: PLM Curriculum Research and Development and Manufacturing.
brian.brown@wichita.edu
(316) 978-3246 |
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Alex
Chaparro, Ph.D.
Director, Human Factors Laboratory
Senior NIAR Fellow, Psychology
Associate Professor, Psychology
Ph.D.,Texas Tech University
B.S.,Florida Tech
Specializing in: Color
Vision, Motion Perception, Night Vision and Visual Requirements
of Reading
alex.chaparro@wichita.edu
(316) 978-3038 |
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Shawn
Ehrstein
Director, CAD/CAM Laboratory
M.B.A., Wichita
State University
M.S., Electrical Engineering, Wichita State University
B.S., Electrical Engineering, Wichita State University
Specializing in: PLM Curriculum Design and Research.
shawn@cadcamlab.org
(316) 978-5839 |
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Timothy
Hickey
Director, Full-Scale Structural Testing Laboratory
Director, Environmental Test Laboratory
B.S., Technology,
Southwestern College
Specializing in: Full-scale and Component DDT and Static Testing,
Experimental Structural Modifications.
thickey@niar.wichita.edu
(316) 978-8204 |
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John
W. Laffen
Director, Aerodynamics Laboratory
B.S., Aeronautical
Engineering, Wichita State University
Specializing in: Experimental Aerodynamics.
john.laffen@wichita.edu
(316) 978-3569 |
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Walter
Lee
Director of Quality & Performance
Manager, Calibration & Quality Laboratory
Experience:
14 years Hydril Research Lab, 16 years MTS Field Service
Training: Electronics – USN, Avionics – USAF
walter.lee@wichita.edu
(316) 978-6139 |
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Joseph
Mitchell
Director, Crash Dynamics Laboratory
M.A., Management,
Webster University
B.S., Computer Science, Wichita State University
joseph.mitchell@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5239 |
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Yeow
Ng
Associate Director, National Center for Advanced Materials Performance
(NCAMP)
M.S., Aerospace
Engineering, Wichita State University
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Wichita State University
B.S., Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University
Specializing
in: Materials & processes, Qualification and Allowables of Composite
and Other Advanced Material Systems.
yeow.ng@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5212 |
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Larry
Braden
Manager, Full-Scale Structural Test Laboratory
Education: AAS
degree in Electronics - Butler County Community College/ Schweiter
Technical School
Experience:
11 years Ground and Flight Test; 20 years Structural Test Instrumentation
Specializing
in: Full-Scale and Component D&DT and Static Testing; Instrumentation
and Systems
larry.braden@wichita.edu
(316) 978-8222 |
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Allison
Crockett
Manager, Composites Lay-Up Room
Research Engineer, Composites & Advanced Materials Laboratory
B.S., Materials
Science and Engineering, California Polytechnic State University
Specializing in: Project
Coordination, Qualification of Composite Material Systems
allison.crockett@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5461 |
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Wade
Davis
Manager, Environmental Test Laboratory
Training/Licenses:
FCC/radar endorsement,
US Navy Aviation Ordance Nuclear Weapons Loading Team, Security
Clearance: Top Secret
Memberships:
IEEE Society, RTCA, NARTE Society
Specializing
in: Environmental/EMC/EMI/RFI/TEMPEST Technology, Aircraft P-Static
and Full Scale Lightning testing, Metrology Calibration & Repair,
Electronics Technology
wade.davis@wichita.edu
(316) 978-6718 |
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Chad
Gadberry
Manager, Crash Dynamics Laboratory
B.S., Mechanical
Engineering, Milwaukee School of Engineering
chad.gadberry@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5239 |
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Bill
Johnson
Manager, Visual Technology Laboratory
Specializing
in: Curriculum Development and Classroom Education in Maya 3-D Computer
Animation and Corporate and Broadcast Video Production.
bill@cadcamlab.org
(316) 978-6812 |
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Shin
Mah
Manager, R&D Testing, Structures Laboratory
shin-liang.mah@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5232 |
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Arthur
C. Porter
Manager, Research Machine Shop
Research Associate
Specializing in: Design, Fabrication, and Maintenance of the Mechanical
Hardware used for Research Projects.
arthur.porter@wichita.edu
(316) 978-3656 |
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Errick
Robles
Manager, ITAR & Export-Controlled Testing, Structures Laboratory
Education: B.S.,
Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University
Specializing
in: Composites Research and Development Testing and Photogrammetry
Analysis using the ARAMIS full-field strain system.
errick.robles@wichita.edu
(316) 978-6717 |
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Lamia
Salah
Manager, Fatigue and Fracture Laboratory
Senior Research Engineer, Composites & Advanced Materials Laboratory
M.S.,
Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University
B.S., Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University
Specializing in: Composites and Fatigue and Fracture Research.
Past and Current Projects: Hydrothermal Effects on Composite Laminates,
Bonded Repair of Aircraft Composite Sandwich Structures, Data and
Methodologies for Structural Life Evaluation of Small Airplanes,
Seat Cushion Component Test Validation, Aging of Composite Aircraft
Structures: Decommissioned Boeing 737 Tail.
lamia.salah@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5775 |
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Nathan
Shipley
Manager, CAD/CAM Laboratory
B.S.,
Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University, 2004
Specializing in: CATIA Structural Stress Analysis
nathan@cadcamlab.org
(316) 978-7260 |
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Fernando
F. Toledo
Manager, Virtual Reality Center
B.S., Mechanical
Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Specializing in: Virtual Reality, Real-Time Visualization &
Simulation of CAD/CAID/CAE/CAM Databases.
fernando.toledo@wichita.edu
(316) 978-8333 |
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Jason
Yeoh
Manager, ASTM Standard Testing, Structures Laboratory
Education: B.
Eng, Mechanical Engineering, University of Glasgow, Scotland
M.S., Computer
Science, Wichita State University
Specializing
In: ASTM Static and Fatigue Testing, Qualification of Composite
Material Systems, Project Coordination
jason.yeoh@wichita.edu
(316) 978-6864 |
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Beth
Clarkson
Statistician, National Center for Advanced Materials Performance
(NCAMP)
M.S., Mathematics,
Wichita State University
pursuing Ph.D., Mathematics, Wichita State University (expected
in 2008)
Specializing in: Basis value and Equivalency computations for composite
materials, Quality Assurance, Statistical Process Control, and Design
of Experiments
(316)
978-3952
elizabeth.clarkson@wichita.edu |
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Eddie
Irani, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, Aerodynamics Laboratory
Ph.D., Aerospace
Engineering, Wichita State University
Specializing in: Experimental Aerodynamics
(316)
978-3569
eddie.irani@wichita.edu |
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Gerardo
Olivares, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, Crashworthiness
Ph.D., Mechanical
Engineering, Wichita State University
M.S., Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University
B.S., Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University
Specializing in: Experimental and Computational Structural Crashworthiness,
Occupant Injury Biomechanics, Automotive and Aerospace Safety Systems
Development, Mechanical Systems Design and Analysis.
gerardo.olivares@wichita.edu
(316) 978-7273 |
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Udo
Schultheis , Ph.D.
Research Scientist, Human Factors
Ph.D. Psychology,
Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
M.S. Psychology, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
B.S. Psychology, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
Specializing in: Aviation Psychology, Human Factors and Cognitive
Psychology. Pilot Selection and Training, FAA ATP and JAA ATPL with
Hawker 800 XP Type Rating.
udo.schultheis@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5776 |
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Waruna Seneviratne
Senior Research Engineer, Structures Laboratory
M.S., Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University
B.S., Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University
Specializing in: Structural and solid mechanics with emphasis on experimental work on durability and damage tolerance testing and analysis protocols for full-scale composite airframe structures.
waruna@niar.wichita.edu
(316) 978-5221 |
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Bryan
Tweedy
Senior Research Engineer, Advanced Joining & Processing Laboratory
M.S., Mechanical
Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Specializing
in: Friction Stir Welding/Processing, Mechanical Design and Solid
Mechanics.
bryan.tweedy@wichita.edu
(316) 978-7272 |
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Christian
Widener, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, Advanced Joining & Processing Laboratory
Ph.D., Mechanical
Engineering, Wichita State University
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Wichita State University
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Wichita State University
Specializing
in: Friction Stir Welding/Processing, Heat-Treatable Aluminum Alloys,
Corrosion, and Materials Characterization.
christian.widener@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5205 |
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To
download a PDF of NIAR research contacts and areas of expertise
click here. |
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