February 3, 2026 — Dr. Barron Bichon has been promoted to vice president of SwRI’s Mechanical Engineering Division. He previously served as the director of SwRI’s Materials Engineering Department. As vice president, Bichon will lead more than 400 staff members performing research, development, testing and evaluation for a wide variety of projects.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to lead our division as it continues to dedicate itself to innovation, collaboration and real-world impact,” Bichon said. “Leading this incredible team is an enormous privilege that I hope to keep earning everyday by making sure every member of this team has the opportunity to build a career they can be proud of.”
Bichon has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Memphis, a master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a doctorate from Vanderbilt University, all in civil engineering. He joined SwRI in 2007 and has contributed to several significant research projects, including the DARPA Open Manufacturing Program to advance additive manufacturing and composite material bonding for defense and aerospace applications. Early in his career, he helped to create a toolset designed to make probabilistic software more accessible to other programs.
“No one here accomplishes anything on their own,” he said. “But I’m very proud to have been part of teams that have accomplished some great things.”
Bichon was named an AIAA Associate Fellow in 2018. Under his leadership, SwRI created the Center for Accelerating Materials and Processes (CAMP), a new 33,505 square-foot facility that will support research and development for tomorrow’s high-speed aerospace engines. It was completed in 2025.
As vice president, Bichon will continue to support the division’s growth, unique culture and his staff as they continue to evolve and grow. Bichon succeeds Dr. Ben Thacker, who was recently promoted to chief operating officer of SwRI.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with Barron’s promotion,” Thacker said. “He has the technical depth, leadership skills and vision the division needs. He understands SwRI’s culture and core values while bringing a fresh perspective. I’ve watched him grow as a leader, and I’m confident the division is in excellent hands. It’s enormously satisfying to see someone you’ve worked closely with step into a role where they’ll thrive and take the division to new heights.”
For more information, contact Joanna Quintanilla, +1 210 522 2073, Communications Department, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238-5166.