William A. Turunen

Bill Turunen joined General Motors in 1939, after graduating from Michigan Tech with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. After four years with the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942-46 and earning a MS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University in 1946, he spent his career in various capacities at the GM research laboratories before retiring in 1979. Beginning as a research engineer, he was promoted to head the mechanical engineering department in 1948, became head of the gas turbines department in 1954, and was named head of the engineering development department in 1958.

Turunen has a distinguished career as an inventor, engineer, and researcher. He has published numerous articles and is a co-holder of a number of patents, including patents on the gas turbine engine. He received the prestigious Caldwell Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Gas Turbine Award from ASME, and the Michigan Tech Board of Trustees Silver Medal in 1979.

From 1995 Induction to the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Academy