John Tomblin
BENDER OF TWIGS INDUCTEE 2019
John Tomblin has done more than bend twigs in his first 25 years at Wichita State
University. He has planted and grown whole forests, sold the wood, bought more land,
planted bigger forests and then repeated the cycle. He has developed new methods of
planting and harvesting and trained generations of foresters to bring prosperity
to his university and city.
That is another way of saying that John’s boundless intellect, energy and relationship-building skills have forever changed the physical landscape of the university and the way it serves students, industry, government and the community.
In partnership with the late President John Bardo and others, he has led the university’s most important strategic initiatives. John’s work drives both the applied learning vision and economic driver mission that are central to WSU’s growing impact.
John’s confidence, optimism and humor are contagious. That’s why, as man of many titles, he’s been able to enlist so many others in his initiatives to build stronger university for our students and community. He is so overflowing with ideas that he interrupts himself to introduce new ideas even better than those he’s talking about.
The positive impact of his leadership is seen especially in the growth of the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), the creation and success of the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT), the vision and rapid development of Innovation Campus and the formation of the Office of Research and Economic Development.
John was already a well-established professor of aerospace engineering and internationally recognized researcher when became executive director of NIAR in 2004, at age 33.
As NIAR has grown into an international presence in aerospace research and testing, John answered the call to take on additional responsibilities. Now, as Vice President for Research and Economic Development, he oversees university research centers, institutes and sponsored programs.
As Executive Director of NIAR, he oversees eighteen laboratories in four locations encompassing over 900,000 square feet, 750 employees and a yearly budget of $100+ million. Under his leadership, NIAR has gained worldwide recognition in the area of composites and advanced materials; full-scale testing and structural teardown, advanced manufacturing, reverse engineering, as well as greatly expanded its capabilities and footprint.
No one could have guessed 25 years ago that a transplanted West Virginian, who never lost his twang, would have such a huge positive impact in Kansas.
Lou Heldman
Vice President
Strategic Communications
SME: SP/SRAP
Updated: 11/26/2019 SRAP