AFIT.EDU > Dean, Graduate School of Engineering and Management
DR. MARLIN U. THOMAS
Dr. Marlin U. Thomas is Dean, Graduate School of Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The school's mission is to provide advanced education in areas of engineering, science and management critical to maintaining the Air Force's technical superiority.
Dr. Thomas received his professional education from the University of Michigan. He has held several academic and leadership appointments at private and state universities that include faculty, department head, and research center directorships. He also served a thirty-two year combined active and reserve career as a Navy civil engineer corps officer and held several command and staff assignments including naval construction battalion and regimental commands.
Dr. Thomas' research interests are in stochastic modeling, reliability and evaluating logistics systems with emphasis on optimal design for contingency operations. He has authored or co-authored more than 60 archival articles and delivered over 100 presentations at major conferences. He has served on six editorial boards including area editor for Operations Research, department editor for IIE Transactions, and consulting editor for McGraw-Hill. He has also served on numerous national committees, boards and advisory panels for academics and research, and is a past member of the Army Science Board.
| 1967 | Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering, University of Michigan-Dearborn |
| 1968 | Master of Science degree in industrial engineering, University of Michigan |
| 1971 | Doctor of Philosophy degree in industrial and operations engineering, University of Michigan |
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
- 1971-1976, Assistant Professor, later, Associate Professor, Department of Operations Research, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA
- 1976-1978, Associate Professor, Systems Design Department, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- 1978-1979, Manager, Planning and Analysis, Vehicle Reliability and Warranty, Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, MI
- 1979-1982, Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia
- 1982-1987, Professor and Chair, Department of Industrial Engineering, and founding interim Director, Cleveland Advanced Manufacturing Program, Cleveland State University
- 1987-1988, Director, Operations Research Program, Division for Electrical, Communications, and Systems Engineering, National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C.
- 1988-1993, Professor and Chair, Department of Industrial Engineering, Lehigh University
- 1993-2006, Professor and Head, School of Industrial Engineering, Director, Institute for Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies, College of Engineering, Purdue University
- 2006-present, Dean, Graduate School of Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology
| College of Engineering Man of the Year, Cleveland State University 1985 |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn Distinguished Alumnus 1996 |
| Legion of Merit, U.S. Navy 2001 |
| Institute of Industrial Engineers President's Award 2002 |
| James H. Greene Outstanding Graduate Educator Award, Purdue University 2003 |
| Engagement/Service Excellence Award, Purdue University 2004 |
| IIE Albert G. Holzman Distinguished Educator Award 2004 |
| Frank Groseclose Medallion Award, IIE, May 2005 |
| American Indian Science and Engineering Society |
| American Society for Engineering Education |
| Fellow, American Society for Quality |
| Fellow, Institute of Industrial Engineers (past President) |
| Fellow, Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences (past Secretary) |
| Registered Professional Engineer, Michigan |
| Past Area Editor, Military, Operations Research |
| Past Department Editor, Stochastic Modeling, IIE Transactions |
| Associate Editor, Computers and Industrial Engineering |
| Past Consulting Editor, McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia for Science and Technology |
