Daniel B. McCray

Dan McCray is the Director for UDRI’s Materials Technology Transition (MTT) division, leading a business unit of over 100 researchers focused on developing materials and process (M&P) technology solutions and transitioning the technologies into real world applications. The MTT division’s primary client is Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base but also supports other government agencies and additional industrial clients, primarily within the aerospace industry.

Dan has nearly 30 years of experience conducting projects related to M&P issues with structural adhesive bonding, prebond surface preparation, polymer matrix composites, and aerospace specialty materials. Dan specializes in addressing M&P issues encountered with aerospace structures during production, in depot, or in field repair environments. He has extensive experience evaluating physical, mechanical, and electrical properties of materials, optimizing processing techniques, and transitioning M&P technologies to aircraft manufacturers and maintainers. Dan has authored over 100 technical papers/reports and regularly presents at technical conferences and meetings. Dan also chairs technical sessions related to the topics of adhesive bonding and composite materials at various conferences and serves as the Technical Program Chair for the High Temperature Polymeric Laminate (HIGH TEMPLE) Workshop, an annual meeting devoted to discussing advances in high temperature polymers, composites, and their applications. Dan has extensive experience developing proposals and securing sponsored research programs. To date, Dan has led and/or participated in proposal efforts that have successfully secured nearly $650M.
Before being named as the Director for the MTT Division, Dan previously served as Division Head of UDRI’s Nonstructural Materials Division from 2023 to 2025, and served as the Group Leader for UDRI’s Aerospace Materials Sustainment Group from 2014 to 2025.

• Structural Adhesive Bonding: Evaluation of structural adhesive materials, material properties, and development of prebond surface preparations
• Polymer Matrix Composites: Evaluation of composite materials, material properties, process development and optimization, and test methodologies
• Aircraft Repair Development: Development of repair methodologies encompassing a variety of aerospace M&P that can be performed in field or depot maintenance environments

• M.S., Materials Engineering, University of Dayton
• B.S., Materials Science and Engineering, Wright State University
• A.S., Engineering Science, Sinclair Community College
• Master’s Certificate, Emerging Leader, University of Dayton Center for Leadership and Executive Development

• University of Dayton Research Institute Exceptional Performance Award, 2021, 2020, and 2015
• University of Dayton Wohlleben-Hochwalt Outstanding Professional Research Award for 2004-2005

• Technical Program Chair for the High Temple Workshop
• Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering (SAMPE)
• Tau Beta Pi, The Engineering Honor Society
• Alpha Sigma Mu, The International Professional Honor Society for Materials Science and Engineering

• D.B. McCray, C.R. Kondash, and P.K. Childers, “NONMETALLIC MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY FOR RAPID RESPONSE; Task Order 0001: Adhesives and Composites Efforts,” AFRL-RX-WP-TR-2018-0186, 19 July 2018.
• D.B. McCray, P.K. Childers, and J.J. Mazza, “One-Batch Flight-Readiness Qualification Testing of Astroquartz-III/AFR-PE-4 for Exhaust-Washed Structure,” ITAR Proceedings of the SAMPE 2013 Conference and Exhibition, Long Beach, CA, 6-9 May 2013.
• D.B. McCray and R.A. Rondeau, “NONMETALLIC MATERIALS SUPPORTABILITY, Task Order 0001: Nonmetallic Materials Supportability,” AFRL-RX-WP-TR-2013-0055, April 2013.
• D.B. McCray, J.A. Smith, K.M. Storage, M.D. Shouse, E. R. Ripberger, and J.J. Mazza, “Evaluation of Epoxy Paste Adhesives for Repair Bonding of Aluminum Alloys,” Proceedings of the SAMPE 2012 Conference and Exhibition, Baltimore, MD, 21-24 May 2012.
• T.M. Storage, K.M. Storage, S.M. Johnson, J.A. Smith, D.B. McCray and K.A. Tienda, “Alternate Cure Study of Out-Of-Autoclave (OOA) Adhesives,” Journal of Advanced Materials, 2011 Best Papers Collection, Society for the Advancement of Material and Processing Engineering, February 2012.
• D.B. McCray, P.K. Childers, K.M. Storage, T.M. Storage, J.J. Mazza and R.W. Thomson, “The Evaluation of Processing Variables for Fabricating Astroquartz-III/AFR-PE-4 Thin Structures,” ITAR Restricted Proceedings of SAMPE 2010 Conference and Exhibition, Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering, Seattle, WA, 17-20 May 2010.
• D.B. McCray, P.K. Childers, J.J. Mazza, K.J. LaCivita, R.W. Thomson and D.D. Johnson, “Scarf Repaired Polyimide Composite Structures Subjected to Tensile and Compressive Loading,” ITAR Restricted Proceedings of the 54th International SAMPE Symposium and Exhibition (SAMPE 2009), Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering, Baltimore, MD, 18-21 May 2009.
• D.B. McCray, J.A. Smith and B.A. Bolan, “The Evaluation of Low-Temperature Alternate Cure Cycles for 121°C (250°F)-Curing Epoxy Structural Adhesives,” Proceedings of the 38th International SAMPE Technical Conference, Dallas, TX, 6-9 November 2006.
• D.B. McCray, “NONMETALS TEST AND EVALUATION, Delivery Order 0007: The Development of On-Aircraft Surface Preparations Utilizing Sol-Gel Coatings for Adhesive Bonding Aluminum Alloys,” AFRL-ML-WP-TR-2002-4131, May 2001.
• D.B. McCray, J.M. Huff, J.A. Smith, and J.J. Mazza, “An Ambient-Temperature Adhesive Bonded Repair Process for Aluminum Alloys,” Science of Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Series, Volume 46, Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering, pages 1135-1147, May 2001.
• D.B. McCray & J.J. Mazza, “Optimization of Sol-Gel Surface Preparations for Repair Bonding of Aluminum Alloys,” Science of Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Series, Volume 45, Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering, pages 45-56, May 2000.