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 MTU Board
of Control Silver Medal in 1979.
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