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Canton Resident Receives Purdue University's Aerospace Engineer Award

CTV STAFF
Monday, September 29, 2008

A Canton resident is a recipient of the Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Award from Purdue University's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the school recently announced.

Timothy A. Kinnan of Canton, who earned a master's degree in 1971 from the West Lafayette, Ind.-based university, is one of the eight alumni this year to receive the award given for significant contributions to the profession. The award will be presented October 2.

Recipients must have shown excellence in industry, academia, government service or other endeavors that reflect the value of an aerospace engineering degree.

"This award acknowledges the professional contributions of the graduates and thanks them for the recognition that their success brings to Purdue and the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics," said Thomas N. Farris, the school's head.

With this year's recipients, 123 graduates have received the award since its inception in 1999.  

Kinnan is president of Wallace Lighthouse Consulting Group.

He was in the U.S. Air Force for 34 years, retiring as a lieutenant general.

During Kinnan's military career he was a fighter pilot who commanded a squadron and two fighter wings, while holding key policy positions in the U.S. and overseas. He served as the Joint Chief's vice director for strategic plans and policy, and as the U.S. military representative to NATO.

From 2004 to 2007, Kinnan worked for Lockheed Martin as vice president for Integrated Warfighter Solutions. He also served as chief operating officer for Verihelion, an entrepreneurial startup in Canton.