Photo

WILLIAM W. BOWER

Senior Technical Fellow Boeing Research and Technology
The Boeing Company
BSME ’67, MSME ’69, PHD ’71

“As an undergraduate at Purdue I developed an interest in computational fluid dynamics and applied this topic in graduate school to plasma heat transfer. Working in the ME High Temperature Gas Dynamics Laboratory provided me with an excellent research background. In my aerospace career I went on to develop computational fluid dynamics tools for aerodynamic and propulsion applications and greatly appreciate the excellent teaching and mentoring I received from Purdue’s outstanding ME faculty.”

William W. Bower is a Senior Technical Fellow at the Boeing Company- a distinction achieved by only one-tenth of 1 percent of the Boeing technical work force. He received a bachelor’s degree with highest distinction in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1967. Additionally, from Purdue he received a MSME in 1969 and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in 1971.

Bower joined the McDonnell Douglas Corporation upon graduation as a Senior Engineer in the propulsion department. He formulated and applied computational fluid dynamics models to mixed-compression inlets, subsonic diffusers, and nozzles. In 1975, he joined McDonnell Douglas Research Laboratories, where he developed computational and experimental tools used to evaluate and design Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing aircraft.

When Boeing Company acquired the McDonnell Douglas Corporation in 1997, Bower moved to Phantom Works, a division of the company that conducts research and develops defense, space, and security systems.

At Phantom Works, he applied AFC technology to manipulate changes in the flow field around aircraft to improve their performance. Additionally, he used this technology to suppress resonance in weapons bays, which prevented damage to stored weapons. Bower also solved issues with aero-optics by accounting for air flow over high energy laser turrets on tactical aircraft. Bower served as program manager on three projects for the United States Air Force and developed technology to increase beam lethality through flow control application.

Today, Bower works for Boeing Research and Technology, a division of Boeing that conducts research for commercial aircraft and defense, space and security systems.

From 1998-2004, Bower was also an Adjunct Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at Parks College of Engineering and Aviation, St. Louis University. In 1999, he was named a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He received the St. Louis Section AIAA Technical Management Award in 2004 for Recognition of an Outstanding Accomplishment in Technical Management. He also received the NASA Certificate of Recognition for Advanced Aircraft Noise Reduction Technologies and the Boeing Certificate of Recognition for Advancing Active Flow Control Technology.