Dj McDaniel

About Dj McDaniel

DJ leads the manufacturing engineering function for Cook Medical (Bloomington, IN). He also manages the central engineering team that promotes innovation and cost savings aligned with business plan objectives. His team is responsible for process development and new product introduction (NPI), as well as manufacturing site transfers. DJ started in engineering management with Cook Medical in 2017. He has a passion for learning and developing young engineers into corporate leaders. In May 2015, DJ completed his doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas (Austin, TX) with focus on advanced semiconductor materials. Post graduation, he gained valuable experience as a senior process engineer for Tower Semiconductor (San Antonio, TX) overseeing their epitaxial growth and backend diffusion processes. Before returning to graduate school, DJ worked as a process engineer at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) in southern Indiana. He also served six years as an officer in the Army National Guard after completing his undergraduate engineering degree at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Terre Haute, IN). DJ is a veteran of the US Army and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He resides in Bloomington with his loving wife (Jennifer) and is blessed with three children: Jacob, Connor, and Taylor. DJ enjoys coaching youth sports and is an active Board Member for Smithville Diamonds Little League. He is also on the leadership council for the Veterans Business Resource Group (BRG) at Cook Medical.

Experience

1. Senior Director, Manufacturing Engineering

   Cook Medical

   Jun 2025 — Present · Bloomington, IN, US

Education

• The University of Texas at Austin

  Master of Science (MS)

  2011 — 2014

• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

  BS

  2002 — 2006

• The University of Texas at Austin

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

  2011 — 2015