The University of Hawaiʻi announces that Chad Walton has been appointed as the new associate vice president for research and innovation for the 10-campus UH System. Walton will begin his official duties with the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) on May 1, 2025.
In his new role, Walton will direct major systemwide research programs and initiatives to align with UH‘s strategic direction and metrics, including STEM education and small business innovation programs. He will create research and workforce/economic development programs to increase community/industry support and strengthen UH‘s technology transfer efforts. Additionally, Walton will work with the UH Foundation to oversee the development of the UH System Office of Strategic Philanthropic Partnerships.
“I am deeply honored to serve the University of Hawaiʻi System in this new capacity,” Walton said. “Hawaiʻi’s unique strengths position us to lead in areas that matter profoundly to our islands and the broader global community. I look forward to working with faculty, students, industry and philanthropic partners to expand UH’s research enterprise, accelerate commercialization and create workforce pathways that translate discovery into real-world impact.”
Walton previously served as assistant vice provost for research and scholarship at UH Mānoa, where he led the materials science initiative that secured major funding and drew faculty participation campus-wide. He currently serves on several advisory boards and steering committees.
Walton is a trained bioengineer who developed technology for National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health-funded grants, with expertise in vaccine development, acoustics-based gene delivery, and molecular cardiology, holding several U.S. patents. He earned degrees from Northern Arizona University, University of Calgary and UH Mānoa. After his PhD, he worked at the John A. Burns School of Medicine before moving to the Department of Surgery, where he served as trauma research director for Hawaiʻi’s Trauma System.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Chad to OVPRI, as he represents another integral component of our recent reorganization and restructuring to accommodate the growth of our operations in both size and complexity,” said UH Vice President for Research and Innovation Vassilis L. Syrmos. “As we continue to be a driver of research, innovation, and knowledge both globally and locally, Chad’s experience, skillset, and familiarity with UH, will be important to our success, especially in our current federal funding environment.”
