Dow Appointed Dean F. Duncan Professor of Mechanical Engineering
May 17, 2004
From Engineering News at NC State

Dr. Thomas A. Dow, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and director of the Precision Engineering Center at North Carolina State University, has been appointed as the Dean F. Duncan Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

The Duncan Professorship was established in 1998 by Hugh M. Duncan of Charlotte, retired president of Southern Precision Spring Co., in honor of his father who graduated from NC State in 1923. The younger Duncan received a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from NC State in 1955. His gift was the first named professorship at NC State's College of Engineering to be endowed by an individual.

After joining the faculty at NC State in 1982, Dow was instrumental in developing the academic and research program in precision engineering. He also is a charter member of the American Society for Precision Engineering (ASPE) and currently acts as its Executive Director. Dow received a Distinguished Service award from ASPE in 1989.

Dow is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and received the Burt L. Newkirk Award from ASME in 1979. His current research interests include the design of precision machining systems, real-time control and metrology.

Dow received his doctorate in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University in 1972 and was a research scientist at Battelle's Columbus Laboratory for the next 10 years until coming to NC State.

(Photo: Becky Kirkland)