AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate names new Chief Scientist

  • Published
  • By Holly Jordan
  • AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate
The AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate announced the appointment of Dr. Timothy J. Bunning as Chief Scientist.  He will assume his duties April 5.

Dr. Bunning joined the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate in 1998 as a materials research engineer in the Hardened Materials Branch.  Before that, he served as a visiting scientist with the Air Force Materials Laboratory, the predecessor to the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate.

Most recently, Dr. Bunning served as the directorate's Chief of the Functional Materials Division, where he oversaw approximately 200 scientists and engineers and over $50 million in programs conducting research into photonic materials, electronic materials, and soft matter.

As Chief Scientist, Dr. Bunning will provide scientific guidance throughout AFRL on research plans and programs in the directorate's core areas and related technologies.  He will also serve as the interface between AFRL and the international scientific community and foster collaboration with other DoD organizations as well as universities, industry, and international partners.

The Materials and Manufacturing Directorate develops materials, processes, and manufacturing improvements that enable advancements in Air Force technology.  It also provides unique technical expertise critical to sustaining the current aircraft fleet.