Meet the Ghanaian engineer who became a NASA astronaut finalist

From developing technologies for hearing aids in the United States to becoming a finalist in NASA’s 2009 astronaut selection process, Dr Fred McBagonluri has followed a career across engineering, medical innovation and education.

He is currently President and Provost of the Academic City University in Ghana as President and Provost, bringing his vast experience from the international technology industry into his work in higher education.

Dr McBagonluri has also been listed an inventor on more than 20 issued United States patents, many of them related to hearing instruments and the processes used to manufacture them.

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He was born and raised in Ghana. He attended school in Accra before continuing his education at Nandom Secondary School and St Augustine’s College.

Dr McBagonluri later travelled to the United States, where he studied Manufacturing Engineering at Central State University, graduating summa cum laude.

He went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Virginia Tech, a doctorate in Materials Engineering from the University of Dayton and a Master of Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

His training brought together engineering, materials science, manufacturing and business, a combination that would prove useful in his work across medical technology, research and leadership.

Before returning to Ghana, McBagonluri worked with several major healthcare and engineering companies in the United States, including Siemens Healthcare, Becton, Dickinson and Company, and Joerns Healthcare.

His work covered medical devices, hearing aid systems, computer-aided design, automation, three-dimensional data processing and digital manufacturing.

Much of his research and development work focused on improving how medical devices, particularly hearing aids, were designed and manufactured.

Dr McBagonluri is listed as an inventor on more than 20 issued United States patents and more than 40 patents and patent applications.

Among the patents naming him as an inventor are technologies for designing hearing aid components, improving ventilation in hearing instruments and automating aspects of digital manufacturing.

Other patents focus on reducing unwanted feedback in compact hearing aids, automating the design of wax guards and determining whether three-dimensional ear impressions are for the left or right ear.

His portfolio also includes work on assembling completely-in-canal hearing instruments and protecting structural features during stereolithographic manufacturing.

In 2009, Dr McBagonluri reached the finalist stage of NASA’s Astronaut Candidate Corps selection process.

He was not ultimately selected as an astronaut, but the achievement placed him among the candidates considered for one of the most demanding careers in science and exploration.

After establishing his career in the United States, McBagonluri returned to Ghana with a focus on education, innovation and national development.

At Ashesi University, where he became the founding Dean of Engineering, he helped promote practical learning, design thinking, entrepreneurship and problem-solving.

Dr McBagonluri also served as the founding Executive Director of the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre, an initiative supported by the World Bank.

His professional achievements have earned him several honours.

In 2008, he was named the United States Black Engineer of the Year Most Promising Scientist. He also received the New Jersey State Healthcare Business Innovator Hero Award.

His other recognitions include the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame award from Central State University, the Academy of Engineering Excellence honour from Virginia Tech and an Innovator of the Year award from Ashesi University.

JKB/VPO

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