Trump Nominates Dr. Arvind Raman, ASME Fellow, to Lead NIST

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is poised for a leadership change following President Donald J. Trump’s nomination of Arvind Raman, currently Dean of Engineering at Purdue University, to serve as Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of NIST. 

Dr. Raman brings more than two decades of experience at Purdue University and a strong record of research, innovation, and engineering education leadership. His selection comes at a pivotal moment for NIST, which plays a central role in advancing measurement science, standards, and technology partnerships that underpin U.S. competitiveness and private-sector innovation.  

Dr. Raman’s professional achievements have long been recognized by the engineering community. He was elected a Fellow of ASME in 2012 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field and was awarded the ASME Gustus L. Larson Memorial Award in recognition of his outstanding research on nonlinear mechanics down to the nano-scale.  He has served as an Associate Editor of the ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems Measurements and Controls as well as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Fluid Structures Interactions. These honors and volunteer service roles reflect both his technical excellence and his sustained commitment to advancing engineering for the benefit of humanity. 

Upon confirmation, Dr. Raman will assume leadership at NIST during a time of significant technological change, spanning artificial intelligence, quantum, advanced materials, and manufacturing. His reputation for forging academic-industry partnerships promises to align well with NIST’s strategic mission of enabling private sector-led innovation through collaboration with government, academia, and industry.