SMU Lyle Remembers James Hinderer, Ph.D., Dallas Innovator and Beloved Adjunct Professor
SMU Lyle School of Engineering mourns the loss of Dr. James Hinderer, beloved adjunct professor of systems engineering and highly regarded Dallas innovator.
Over many decades, Dr. Hinderer led the development of several then-top-secret impactful projects at RTX Corp. – which was then Raytheon – and Texas Instruments. He shared his vast knowledge of the systems engineering process with students at SMU Lyle.
“Jim stood out relative to a very large number of PhDs I worked with designing and building sensors for the military,” said Glenn Hawkins, who worked with Dr. Hinderer at Raytheon. “The norm of PhDs I worked with were brilliant in a small spectrum of total knowledge, but above-to-normal in remaining knowledge. Jim was very knowledgeable in a wide variety of all topics, and if he was in a discussion on an unfamiliar subject, with childlike enthusiasm, he went home, researched it, and was an expert in a new subject the next morning.
“Bottom line, there aren't many Jim Hinderers, we lost him way too soon.”
Dr. Hinderer passed away at the end of last year after a brief illness. He was born in Dallas and grew up in Athens, TX. He received his bachelors in 1964 before earning his Doctor of Mechanical Engineering in 1969, both from the University of Texas Austin. He worked as a senior scientist at Texas instruments from 1968 until Raytheon purchased the defense division from them in 1997, where he eventually retired in 2008. He also worked as a consultant for Sabre Systems from 2009 until 2012.
He served as an adjunct professor at SMU Lyle from 1998 until 2008. He loved spending time with his family and traveled extensively all over the world.
“When we would travel, we would have to say he was a math teacher because of his knowledge and security clearance,” said Heather Orum, Dr. Hinderer’s daughter. “He created technology to defend our country.”
Dr. Hinderer helped develop night vision, the cell phone, a successful Navy radar program, and smart missiles that are precision-guided to avoid unintended targets. He helped create technology used on the Orion aircraft that listens for soundwaves coming from ships and submarines.
“He served our department and our country honorably,” said Vickey Roach, one of Dr. Hinderer’s colleagues from Raytheon.
When Dr. Hinderer was recruited to teach systems engineering classes at SMU Lyle in 1998, he immediately discarded the entire former syllabus and built it around his real-world experience.
“His syllabus was straightforward, grounded in experience, and recognized by students as containing the kind of insight that only a seasoned practitioner could provide,” said Karl Arunski, who worked with Dr. Hinderer at Raytheon and who recruited him to teach system engineering classes at SMU Lyle. “It was a blessing to have known and worked with Jim. As a boss, mentor, and friend, he was the best that I knew throughout my career.”
Arunski said Dr. Hinderer excelled at SMU and was once chosen by students as the best instructor in the systems engineering program. At Raytheon, he was one of the highest regarded system engineers in the company.
“He was both soft-spoken and humble,” Arunski said. “Despite his quiet nature, he would go toe-to-toe with anyone when debating the right solution for a system architecture, design, or control problem.”
Mike Dietz, a former student and Raytheon colleague, said he owes notable credit to Dr. Hinderer for influencing his personal and professional development.
“He was a role model for me with his approach to solving problems, his systems thinking approach, his calm demeanor, and positive attitude,” Dietz said. “His classes were excellent, and he always taught the practical aspects in addition to the theory and math; his succinct ability to describe how it worked in the real world gave me a definite edge at work that I was able to apply, especially when working in new areas and on new products – it helped me learn quicker and lead better.”
When Dr. Hinderer retired, he recommended another Raytheon colleague – Chris Rynas – take over teaching his classes at SMU Lyle. Rynas taught for 10 years, crediting Dr. Hinderer for the success of his career both at Raytheon and at SMU.
“He was a great and an intelligent man known and liked by all people,” Rynas said.
Neil Latimer, a longtime friend and college roommate of Dr. Hinderer, remembers him as kind, always taking the time to help a stranger and asking nothing in return. He recalled a story from their time at UT when a graduate student in math came knocking on their dorm room door asking for help with a particularly difficult advanced math problem.
Dr. Hinderer looked at the problem, shook his head, and said that he had not even heard some of the terms used. But he wasn’t so easily defeated.
He asked the graduate student for his textbook, read through several pages, and after about five minutes reached for a pencil and paper. “Let’s try this,” he said, filling two pages with calculations.
His answer matched what was in the back of the book. As a sophomore, he had solved an advanced math problem in five minutes that a class full of graduate students couldn’t solve in days.
“He always made things brighter, more understandable,” Latimer said. “I benefited from his advice and guidance many times over the years. It is a blessing to have known Jim. I wish we could have spent more time together but am grateful for the time we did have. He will be missed.”
Orum said during Dr. Hinderer’s last days, he wanted to recognize his caregivers for their phenomenal care.
“He insisted that I get him a thank you card for the doctors and nurses to let them know their work was extraordinary,” she said. “He knew them for only 11 days.”
His daughter and all those who knew him agree: Jim Hinderer was extraordinary.
About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
SMU's Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, SMU Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master's and doctoral degrees.
About SMU
SMU is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. SMU’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, community and the world.