Since 2014, Adam Hamilton has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit applied research organizations. SwRI provides solutions for many of humankind’s most difficult technical challenges encountered in environments from Deep Sea to Deep Space®, and practically everywhere in between. Hamilton holds a Master of Science in Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics (ASE/EM), both from The University of Texas at Austin, and was a member of Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society). Since 1993 he has been a Professional Engineer (TX 76784). During his career, Hamilton has provided technical expertise to myriad programs in government and industry while also providing business and community leadership. His multidisciplinary technical expertise includes engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, and risk assessment. Hamilton served as the Program Manager for two probabilistic Site-Specific Biosafety and Biosecurity Risk Assessments for the Department of Homeland Security National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (2010, 2012).
Before joining SwRI, Hamilton was the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of Signature Science, LLC, from 2001 to 2014. Signature Science, based in Austin, Texas, is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of SwRI specializing in national security, biotechnology, chemistry, environmental science, and engineering.
He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Hamilton was elected to the ASE/EM Academy of Distinguished Alumni (2019) and served as the organization’s first president. He served on the UT Austin ASE/EM External Advisory Committee (2017-2019) and is life member of Texas Exes.
Hamilton is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) and its Industry Advisory Board (IAB). Hamilton is a member of the Research Advisory Board of the Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing (IAMSM) and served on the Dee Howard Foundation Board of Directors. He served as the Deputy Director for Risk Assessment for the Texas Engineers Task Force on Homeland Security and Texas Office of the Attorney General, Training Advisory Board from 2006-2009.
Hamilton also served as the Chair of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce (2019-2020) and served as the Chair of the 2023 United Way San Antonio Campaign. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County.
Hamilton also serves on the UT San Antonio Development Board and the College of Sciences Advancement Council. He is an Advisory Trustee of the San Antonio Medical Foundation and a Special Trustee of the Texas Biomedical Research Institute. He is currently serving on the Texas Higher Education Tech Transfer Advisory Committee (2023).
Hamilton was awarded for “Exceptional Service in the Public Interest” in 2006 and is a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy (2009). He served on the Greater Austin Crime Commission and was named a Diplomate of American Board for Certification in Homeland Security in 2014. Hamilton is Certified in Homeland Security, Level V, by American College of Forensic Examiners (102905).
Hamilton reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander (O-4) and served as the Future Plans Officer (N5) for the Texas State Guard Maritime Regiment and, during his service, was awarded the Texas Outstanding Service Medal, Commanding General’s Individual Award, Adjutant General’s Individual Award, and the Meritorious Service Ribbon.
Hamilton married his high school sweetheart in 1984, and the Hamiltons have three adult children, and three grandsons. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are in-residence at the Southwest Research Institute campus in San Antonio.
