3D printing pioneer Chuck Hull elected to the National Academy of Engineering
Chuck Hull, the Co-Founder of 3D Systems and the inventor of stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Class of 2025. This distinction is among the highest for a professional engineer in the United States and Hull was chosen along with 127 new members (and 22 international members) to receive this honor. Hull was specifically selected for his role in the invention of 3D printing and the development of the additive manufacturing industry.
It is no real surprise that Hull should be lauded by the NAE, a nonprofit institution that has been providing engineering leadership since its founding in 1964. The group’s mission is to “advance the welfare and prosperity of the nation by providing independent advice on matters involving engineering and technology, and by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and public appreciation of engineering”. Its criteria for welcoming new members includes outstanding contributions in pioneering new technology fields. Hull, being not only an inventor of SLA 3D printing but also a force within the industry’s growth through his leadership at 3D Systems, clearly embodies much of what the NAE seeks.
Hull’s pioneering work in the AM sector started back in the 1980s, when he was working as Vice President of Engineering at UVP, Inc, a company specializing in producing ultraviolet light sources (now known as Analytik Jena). In this context, Hull was developing a method for using UV light to cure photopolymer resins into 3D structures to accelerate prototyping applications. This work led to the creation of the very first 3D printed part in 1983, an eyewash cup.
From there, Hull patented the method—stereolithography—and launched the first commercial 3D printer, the SLA-1, in 1987 through his newly founded company, 3D Systems. Over the next decades, 3D Systems would become a major player in the emerging additive manufacturing industry and expand its portfolio far beyond SLA technologies through hardware, material and software development as well as strategic acquisitions. Today, 3D Systems sells a number of polymer and metal production solutions and serves a broad range of industrial and healthcare customers. Hull still holds a leadership position at 3D Systems, as Co-Founder and CTO for Regenerative Medicine.
“On behalf of the entire 3D Systems team, it is my pleasure to extend our deepest congratulations to Chuck for this honor,” said Dr. Jeffrey Graves, President and CEO of 3D Systems. “His pioneering work has revolutionized manufacturing and profoundly impacted healthcare delivery. Chuck’s invention of stereolithography not only launched an entire industry but also sparked the proliferation of numerous applications for 3D printing technologies. Whether we look at aerospace, personalized healthcare solutions, AI infrastructure or the automotive industry, 3D printing is playing a significant role in how these industries innovate. Thanks to Chuck’s groundbreaking initial innovation with SLA, we are transforming manufacturing and patient care for a better future.”
The election by his peers to join the National Academy of Engineering Class of 2025 is not Hull’s first major accolade. In 2023, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI) by President Joe Biden. He was also inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014 and received the European Inventor Award that same year.
“It is humbling to be elected to this academy of distinguished engineers,” commented Chuck Hull. “I’m honored and excited to serve and work alongside such outstanding professionals to advance the positive impact engineering has on our world.” Hull and the other honorees will be formally inducted into the NAE at the organization’s annual meeting on October 5, 2025.
