See highlights of UDRI history through the decades (opens in new window).

How It Started

It was 1956 – seven years after the University of Dayton secured its first research contract (translating aircraft flight-loads data for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base) – and UD had some 20 projects underway. John Westerheide, who had been hired to lead the University’s first full-time researchers on a classified project, predicted that an organized research environment would be the only way to coordinate quickly growing efforts and position UD to compete with other universities and research organizations. Taking pen to paper, Westerheide crafted a seven-page proposal for the “establishment of a centralized research organization at the University of Dayton.” On Sept. 1, 1956, UDRI was born.

Celebrating 50 Years

UDRI celebrated its golden anniversary in 2006.  It has become a globally recognized leader in research and development of technologies which have not only advanced science but benefited mankind. UDRI has excelled in advanced materials, engineering, aerospace technologies, structural physics and much more, growing from $1 million income from those 20-plus contracts to more than $70 million from 1,300 contracts in 2005 – having topped $1 billion in sponsored research in 2003. Read the press release. UDRI commemorated the anniversary with several events.

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