THORP, Katie Emaline Gunnison, PhD, 52 passed away peacefully Saturday, July 7, 2018 at her home in Bellbrook, Ohio. She was born October 29, 1966 in Pasco WA where she lived during college, then moved to Ohio where she has lived for the past 27 years. Katie earned multiple degrees culminating in a Doctorate in Materials Engineering at the University of Dayton. Katie served the United States Air Force as a civilian Principal Research Materials Engineer in the Composites Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory for over 26 years. She held multiple technical and supervisory leadership positions with far reaching impacts to military aerospace systems. Katie was recognized by the Air Force through the Civilian Achievement Award, Robert T. Schwartz Engineering Achievement Award, and Outstanding Supervisor Award. Katie served the Society for Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) as the Global President and was recognized as a Fellow of SAMPE. She exhibited a lifelong passion for science and engineering and served the local technical community as the President of the Engineering and Science Foundation of Dayton and a member of the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Education Outreach Executive Board. Katie inspired other women to thrive beyond cancer through involvement as Chair of the Noble Circle Project, a local cancer support program for women. She supported programs on nutritional education, the power of positivity and sisterhood. Katie recently won the Prism award from the Society of Women Engineers, which recognizes outstanding career leadership activities in a technical field, as well as leadership in professional organizations and the community. She was and active member of Hope United Methodist Church. Katie was the beloved wife of John Thorp for 26 years and a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, mentor and friend to many. She is also survived by her parents Mary Kay and Jim Britton, her five siblings and their spouses.