Dr. Frank R. Cichocki, Jr., Associate Director, Research and Development, Ethicon Inc.

Dr. Frank R. Cichocki, Jr. received his Associates Degree in Aviation Technology from Purdue in 1992, followed by a Bachelors, Masters and PhD in Materials Engineering in 1995, 1997, and 2000, respectively.

In his present position as Associate Director of R&D at Ethicon, Inc.  (a Johnson and Johnson company), Dr. Cichocki leads a team of engineers and technical specialists with responsibility for the Needles and the Metallurgy technical platform involving the development of new surgical needles and the ongoing support of Ethicon’s suture portfolio on a global basis. He manages various facets of new product development, including exploratory research, materials processing and characterization, medical device development, and product implementation. Prior to this position, which he has held since 2013, Dr. Cichocki held multiple positions with Ethicon including: Manager of Research and Development, Staff R&D Engineer, Senior R&D Engineer, and R&D Engineer.  Before joining Ethicon Inc. in 2002, he worked as an R &D Engineer at the Owens Corning Science and Technology Center (2000-2002) on composite materials development.  He was a guest researcher in the Metals Research and Technology division of Daimler-Benz Corporation in Ottobrunn, Germany in 1999, and he spent the summer of 1996 as a visiting student at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany working in composites processing and fracture analysis.

Dr. Cichocki holds 16 U.S. patents along with multiple international patents and has published journal and conference articles in the fields of materials science, composites, biomaterials, and medical devices.. In addition, he is a recipient of Johnson and Johnson’s Philip B. Hoffman Research Scientist award (2008) for his outstanding contributions leading to the advancement of the standards of care in surgery. While at Purdue as a graduate student in the School of Materials Engineering, he received the Magoon Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher Award in 1998 and 1999, respectively.

Robert A. Hull, Retired, Hiler Industries

Robert A. Hull received his Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Purdue University in 1965 and an MBA from the University of Michigan. In 1975, after working as an Engineering Supervisor at John Deere for 7.5 years, Robert went to work for Kingsbury Castings (which along with Accurate Castings, falls under the umbrella of Hiler Industries), a foundry that his father co-founded with Robert Hiler Sr.in 1969.  He quickly became Plant Superintendent after spending many hours working on set-ups, molding, and pouring to learn every aspect of the foundry business. 

Robert played an integral role in implementing the technology improvements that came with the addition of ductile iron, which was developed in the late 1940’s as a stronger, more versatile alternative to gray iron.  In the early 1970’s, Kingsbury Casting was producing both gray and ductile iron, but by 1978 they began to focus exclusively on Ductile Iron.  Bob played a major role in insuring that Hiler Industries remained at the forefront of technology as the industry advanced over the next 30 years. Today the US produces more tons of Ductile Iron castings than Gray Iron castings.

In 1982, Robert was promoted to Vice President. Under his leadership, Kingsbury Castings was one of the first foundries in the US to use the Shell Mold Process invented by J. Croning of Germany during WWII.  Robert used his knowledge of foundry tooling to head up the company’s efforts in the area of tooling production, and today, Kingsbury Castings is the largest and only foundry in the country producing Ductile Iron using the Shell Mold Process exclusively.

Later in his career Bob was given management responsibility for both of Hiler Industries foundries:  Kingsbury Castings which produces Ductile Iron Shell Mold castings and Accurate Castings which produces Gray Iron Shell Mold castings as well as other specialty irons.

Robert retired in 2005, and still serves on the Board of Directors of Hiler Industries. 

As a leader in adopting new casting technologies and implementing them successfully in industry, Robert has had a significant impact as bringing innovation to the field, serving both commercial and military customers with a wide range of products. He has been active in, and ensured Hiler was active in, supporting professional societies and commercial consortiums, such as AFS and the Indiana Cast Metals Association.

Dr. Nick Medendorp, Jr.

Dr. Nick Medendorp, Jr. has recently joined Novan Therapeutics as their Vice President, Medical Devices.  Nick is responsible for the creation and deployment of innovative therapeutic solutions for a variety of hard to treat conditions. Nick formerly served as Vice President of Research & Development for Cree, Inc.  He was responsible for product development, engineering, compliance, and advanced technology development for the LED Lighting Division.  He joined Cree in 2004 during the creation of the LED Components division, serving previously as the Director of Operations, Director of Research and Development, and Director of Marketing.  Prior to joining Cree, Nick held a variety of engineering and management positions at Agility Communications, Inc. (acquired by JDSU, Inc.) and Motorola, Inc.  Nick has a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from Purdue University.

Dr. Lisa Veitch, Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA)

Dr. Veitch graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Ceramic Science and Engineering degree from Penn State University.  She gave the commencement speech that year at the Penn State New Kensington Campus (PSUNK) where she started her academic career as well as in 2013. 

After graduation from PSUNK, she went to work at Delco Electronics, at that time a subsidiary of GM, in Kokomo IN as a production line engineer on the semiconductor line.  While working full-time, she returned to school part-time at Purdue University where she obtained her Master’s Degree in Materials Science and Engineering in 1986.  Upon receiving her degree, she decided to leave GM and return to school full-time to obtain her PhD in the same discipline (degree granted 1989). Her doctoral work was supported by the Office of Naval Research, and the outcome of her research has been further developed for military and commercial systems.

After graduating from Purdue with her doctorate, she became a researcher at NASA Glenn Research Center in 1989.  There, she was involved in developing ceramic matrix composite materials for gas turbine engines. She also spent a year at NASA Langley Research Center as the Deputy Technical Integration Program Manager for the High Speed Research Program.  In that capacity, she had oversight with integration of all of the developing technologies towards a supersonic commercial air vehicle.

In 1996, she decided to change careers and joined the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) in Alexandria, VA.  Lisa has been involved in a number of new weapon systems over the last 19 years including the Joint Strike Fighter, Comanche helicopter, and the Presidential Helicopter and her assessments have led to either the Defense Department restructuring the program or have supported their decision to terminate the programs.  She’s also been involved in a number of modernization programs (CH-47 Chinook helicopters and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters) as well as new technologies that the Defense Department is developing to increase effectiveness on the battlefield.  She worked several NASA assessments related to their work in the aeronautics area which she was very familiar with.  Throughout Lisa’s career, she has authored or co-authored over 40 publications and filed a patent for a coating she developed for ceramic materials at NASA.

Over the years, Lisa has been involved in a variety of professional societies including the American Ceramic Society, the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, SAMPE, and the Air Force Association.  She’s also served on the Penn State University Women in Engineering Board from 1999-2001. She’s received several awards and honors including Plum Senior High School Distinguished Alumni Award 2011, Exceptional Performance Award from NASA Vehicle Systems Program in 2004, the 2004 NASA TGIR Award for the Supersonic Flight Demonstration, Honorary Exemplar for the Ohio Academy of Science, An Evening to Celebrate Women from Penn State University New Kensington Campus, Special Services Award from NASA Glenn Research Center, Tau Beta Pi, Alpha Sigma Mu, and Keramos.

Lisa has also given back to the community.  She has given seminars in classes at Plum Senior High, Penn State New Kensington Campus, and a variety of schools in the Cleveland area and other parts of the US on her experiences and the importance of math and science.  She also tutored inner city 7^th graders in Cleveland as well at a local high school in Alexandria, VA. And she has mentored a number of men and women over the years pursing degrees in engineering, all of whom have had exceptional careers.

Dr. Veitch spends her leisure time in the air and under water. She holds a private pilot’s license for single engine planes, and she is a certified scuba diver. When her feet are on the ground, she enjoys playing the piano and ballroom dancing.