At this week’s 10th annual Military Additive Manufacturing Summit & Technology Showcase (MILAM) in Tampa, Florida, John Tomblin was honored with the MILAM Lifetime Achievement Award. Tomblin is Wichita State University’s executive vice president for Research and Industry and Defense Programs and executive director of the WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research. 

The MILAM Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes consistent, distinguished service by an individual who has made ground-breaking lifetime contributions with an enduring impact in the areas of additive manufacturing and 3D printing. 

NIAR participated in the summit and showcase this week, demonstrating its leadership in advancing digital engineering and additive manufacturing and an ongoing commitment to supporting military priorities and strengthening readiness and resilience for defense partners. 

In addition to hosting a booth to showcase current programs, initiatives and technology, NIAR leaders supported event programming. Lauren Tubesing, NIAR chief of operations for advanced materials research, participated in a panel on “Advancing Qualified AM Processes to Revolutionize Future Aircraft Sustainment”; and Mark Shaw, NIAR chief engineer for advanced materials research, moderated the “Death Valley to Mount McKinley – Accelerating the Mission to Scale AM 10x by 2027” session. 

“MILAM provides a critical platform for collaboration and innovation,” Tomblin said. “It is an incredible honor to receive the MILAM Lifetime Achievement Award. It is a testament to the groundbreaking work being done by the NIAR team and our unwavering commitment to delivering advanced manufacturing solutions that enhance mission readiness and operational resilience.” 

NIAR’s participation at MILAM sets the stage for two upcoming events in Wichita that will further showcase its digital engineering and additive manufacturing capabilities. 

• April 29-30: Dassault Systèmes® Global Digital Engineering Defense Summit 
• June 10: Hub for Advanced Manufacturing and Research (HAMR) Grand Opening   

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 25,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry- and defense-funded engineering R&D and No. 9 overall for engineering R&D.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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The mission of Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research is to strengthen university research capabilities; provide applied learning opportunities for students; and support the aviation and manufacturing industries – while driving innovation and prosperity for the community, region and state. NIAR provides research, testing, certification and training for aviation and manufacturing technologies.  Established in 1985, NIAR has a $400 million annual budget, 2,100 personnel and over 2 million square feet of laboratory and office space in six locations across Wichita, Kansas, and one in Huntsville, Alabama.