“The approach and process implemented at Penn State by D. Wormley, Dean of Engineering and the Leonhard Program is extremely instrumental in developing World Class Engineers---a strong asset to industry, the world culture, the profession, an engineer’s career, and the University.”

John R. Myers

Former Executive Chairman
Garrett Aviation Services
Former Chairman
Tru-Circle Corporation

During the past ten years Mr. Myers was Executive Chairman of Garrett Aviation Services and Chairman of Tru-Circle Corporation. Both companies were private equity companies sponsored by various equity funds.

Prior to that, until October 1993, he was President and CEO of Thiokol Corporation. Before holding that position, he served as president and chief operating officer responsible for all Thiokol’s rocket motor divisions and their fastening systems company, Huck International. Thiokol’s total revenues are in excess of $1 billion per year.

Mr. Myers came to Thiokol from Textron Corporation, turbine and piston engine companies, Textron Lycoming. He was president of the $1 billion manufacturer of engines for general aviation, commercial aviation, helicopters, landing craft and main battle tanks. During his twelve year tenure, Mr. Myers led the company from $250 million in sales to $1 billion, with significant international penetration.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Mr. Myers joined General Electric. In his more than eighteen years with General Electric he managed varying sized manufacturing and quality operations in aircraft engines and medical diagnostic equipment. He left General Electric in 1978 to join Technicare Diagnostics as vice president and general manager of the Nuclear Scanner Division.

Mr. Myers is active in many professional organizations. He is currently a Director of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. For eight years in the 1990’s, he was a Director of Iomega Corporation. He is a past national chair of the American Defense Preparedness Association and in 1984, was awarded the Individual Award Certificate of Outstanding Achievement (Lindbergh Chapter of the Army Aviation Association of America) for significant contributions to the material readiness of United States Army Aviation.

He received the Silver Knight of Management Award for leadership in business and industry; was the recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award in 1995 from Penn State; and he and his wife Brenda have scholarship endowments in the College of Engineering to assist students.

John and Brenda, have one married son, three married daughters, and ten grandchildren. They split their time between Florida and Cape Cod.