Cummins Inc. announced Tuesday, Oct. 14, that Robert J. Bernhard, vice president for research and an engineering professor at the University of Notre Dame, has been elected to the company’s board of directors.
Bernhard brings extensive scientific and technical expertise to the Cummins board. Prior to joining Notre Dame in 2007, he had a 25-year career as an engineering professor and researcher at Purdue University, where he served as assistant vice president for research from 2004 to 2007.
Bernhard also worked at Iowa State University as an assistant professor of engineering from 1977 to 1982 and started his professional career as an engineer at Westinghouse Electric Inc. in 1973. The holder of two patents, Bernhard is considered one of the country’s leading experts on noise control, specifically tire and traffic noise.
He is active in a number of engineering-related organizations, including the Society of Automotive Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Institute of Noise Control Engineering and the American Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
“Bob’s engineering expertise, especially in automotive-related disciplines, is a perfect fit for Cummins as we work to maintain our standing as a technological leader in the diesel engine industry,” says Tim Solso, chairman and chief executive officer of the Columbus, Ind.-based company. “We are looking forward to Bob’s guidance and counsel on technical matters and other important issues that Cummins is going to face as it pursues its aggressive growth objectives in the years to come.”
Bernhard, the 10th member of the Cummins board, will serve on the Finance, Governance and Nominating and the Safety, Environment and Technology committees. His term begins immediately, and he will stand for re-election at the company’s annual meeting in May 2009. All Cummins directors are elected annually.
