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John G. Casali

John Grado Endowed Professor
  • Director, Auditory Systems Laboratory
  • Certified Professional Ergonomist #222
  • CPE

Dr. John Casali

Dr. John Casali
John G. Casali
519G Whittemore Hall
(MC 0118)
1185 Perry Street
Blacksburg, VA 24061

Research Areas

CORE AREAS:  Human Factors Engineering, ergonomics, acoustics, human hearing (Responsible for procuring more than $13M in total funding support at Virginia Tech.)

SPECIALTY AREAS:  auditory situation awareness, auditory displays, auditory warnings, signal detection, hearing protection design and testing (NRR ratings, spectral attenuation, perceptual effects), speech communications in noise, vehicle simulation, driving and flight safety, product design, military ergonomics, intellectual property law, forensics and expert witness litigation support.

  •   Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (Human Factors Engineering Concentration), Virginia Tech, 1982
  • M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (Human Factors Engineering Concentration), Virginia Tech, 1979
  • B.S. in Psychology (Outstanding Senior Awardee), Virginia Tech, 1977  

UNIVERSITY APPOINTMENTS:

  • Grado Chaired Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), Virginia Tech, 2002 - Present
  • Department Head and Grado Chaired Professor of ISE, Virginia Tech, 1996 - 2002
  • Interim Department Head and Professor of ISE, Virginia Tech, 7/1995 - 5/1996
  • Professor of ISE, Virginia Tech, 5/1991 - 7/1995
  • Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Virginia Tech, 5/1986 - 5/1991
  • Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Virginia Tech, 9/1982 - 5/1986

**NOTE:  Founder and Director of Auditory Systems Laboratory during all of above appointments.**

INDUSTRY APPOINTMENTS:

  • Consulting Company Participation:  CTO of HEAR (Hearing, Ergonomics, and Acoustics Resources) LLC.
  • 1983 -  present: Consultant to over 60 U.S. and foreign companies and organizations in over 100 projects concerning acoustics and hearing protection, ergonomics, warning signal design, and operator displays, and as an expert witness or consultant on over 40 cases involving product design, industrial accidents, noise, and intellectual property-patent litigation.
  • 1973 - 1976: Preparation Plant Associate, Hawley Coal Mining Corp., Southern WV
  • ISE 5605:  Human Factors Engineering in Systems Design
  • ISE 5644:  Human Hearing, Noise, and Auditory Display Design
  • ISE 6624:  Forensics and Litigation for Engineers
  • U.S. Patent 8,550,206 B2:  "Method and Structure for Achieving Spectrum-Tunable and Uniform Attenuation," (Utility Patent), Date of Issue:  October 8, 2013, J. P. Keady,  J. G. Casali, and K. Lee.
  • U.S. Patent 7,822,219:  "Cartilage Displacing Bead, Ridge, or Key Projection," (Utility Patent), Date of Issue: October 26, 2010, L. K. Baker and J. G. Casali.
  • U.S. Patent 5,651,422:  "Universal-Fit, Quick-Connect Wheelchair Power Drive/Steer Attachment for Wheelchair,” (Utility Patent), Date of Issue:  July 29, 1997, J. G. Casali.
  • U.S. Patent 5,333,622:  "Earplug and Hearing Devices Formed In-Situ," Serial Number 916,220, (Utility Patent), Date of Issue:  August 2, 1994, J. G. Casali and D. W. Mauney.  
  • U.S. Patent 5,131,411, "Custom-Fitting Earplug Formed In-Situ Using Foaming Action," Serial Number 569,812, (Utility Patent), Date of Issue:  July 21, 1992, J. G. Casali and D. W. Mauney.
  • U.S. Patent Provisional Application #61946923 (filed, pending):  "Hearing Protection Device Real-Ear-Attenuation-at-Threshold Test System," Filing Date:  March 3, 2014, K. Lee and J. G. Casali.
  • U.S. Patent Application #12/579,673 (filed, pending):  "Device and Method to Reduce Ear Wax Clogging of Acoustic Ports, Hearing Aid Sealing System, and Feedback Reduction System," J. P. Keady,  J. G. Casali, and G. Hoshizaki.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:

  • Fellow, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
  • Fellow, IIE (Institute of Industrial Engineers)
  • National Hearing Conservation Association (National President, 2006-07)
  • Sigma Xi (Scientific Research Honorary)
  • Alpha Pi Mu (Industrial Engineering Honorary Fraternity)
  • Psi Chi (Psychology Honorary Fraternity)
  • Phi Kappa Phi (Academic Honorary Fraternity)

CORPORATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES:

  • Board Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Personics, Inc., Boca Raton, FL
  • Board Member, Scientific Advisory Board for Military Auditory Fitness for Duty for the U.S. Joint Department of Defense, Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, DC
  • 2014:  Joseph L. Haley Writing-Best Publication Award, (with Lt Colonel Kristin Casto, former PhD advisee, first author), from the Army Aviation Medical Association, for the best helicopter-related aerospace medicine publication in any media for year 2013.
  • 2013 & 1998:  College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research, Virginia Tech.
  • 2011:  College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, Virginia Tech.
  • 2009: Outstanding Hearing Conservationist Award, from the National Hearing Conservation Association (Not more than 1 award given annually on an international level.)
  • 2009 & 1991:  Outstanding Lecture Award, from the National Hearing Conservation Association, based on audience ratings for the best conference paper.
  • 2008:  Alexander Williams Design Award (co-recipient with Virginia Tech research team) from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
  • 2007:  Elected to the Outreach Academy of Excellence, Virginia Tech.
  • 2006:  College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Outreach Excellence, Virginia Tech.
  • 2006: Invited Inyong Ham Distinguished Lecture speaker at Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA.
  • 2005: Alexander G. Holtzman Distinguished Educator Award, from the Institute of Industrial Engineers.
  • 2002: University Alumni Award for Research Excellence, Virginia Tech.  (Virginia Tech’s highest research award; awarded annually.)
  • 1999: David Baker Research Award, from the Institute of Industrial Engineers.
  • 1998: Plenary Speaker at the Ibero-American Congress of Acoustics, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
  • 1997: Paul M. Fitts Award , for outstanding contributions to the education and training of human factors specialists, from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
  • 1994: Media Award, from the National Hearing Conservation Association for newspaper (Associated Press) and television interviews on noise-induced hearing loss.
  • 1991: Jack A. Kraft Award, for efforts to extend the application of human factors to new areas of endeavor, from the Human Factors Society.
  • 1990: Invited Panel Member, National Institutes of Health: NIH Consensus Development Panel on Noise and Hearing Loss, Bethesda, Maryland.
  • 1983: Recipient, American Psychological Association George E. Briggs Award for the Outstanding Dissertation in Engineering Psychology for year of 1982.