Meet the 2026 Inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame

Every year since 1973, the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® has honored another class of world-changing Inductees. Our 2026 class has just been announced, and we are excited to introduce you to each of the visionary creators, innovators and entrepreneurs who will be inducted this spring.

Read on to discover the 2026 National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees and learn about the impact they’ve made!

Donald Alstadt

Chemlok^® Rubber-to-Metal Adhesive System

Chemist Donald Alstadt invented Chemlok, a revolutionary rubber-to-metal adhesive system that is used across many industries, including the automotive, aerospace, agriculture, off-highway, defense and energy markets. Today, Chemlok and Chemlok-derived technologies are used in almost every vehicle in the world.

Louis Argenta and Michael Morykwas

Vacuum Assisted Closure^® (V.A.C.^®)

Louis Argenta and Michael Morykwas co-invented Vacuum Assisted Closure, a medical device that uses controlled suction to draw excess fluid from a wound while promoting its closure. V.A.C. therapy has been used to help millions of patients worldwide by treating a wide range of difficult-to-heal wounds, from surgical wounds to diabetic ulcers and burns.

Sara Blakely

SPANX^® Shapewear

Sara Blakely invented footless control top pantyhose and created the Spanx brand, which has revolutionized and become synonymous with shapewear. Founded with a $5,000 personal investment, Spanx Inc. grew into a billion-dollar company. Blakely became the youngest self-made woman billionaire and a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Olive Dennis

Railroad Passenger Car Improvements

Olive Dennis, a civil engineer for the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad Co., made travel vastly more comfortable for rail passengers. Traveling tens of thousands of miles annually for nearly 30 years, Dennis applied both her expertise and her experience to develop many significant innovations for railroad passenger cars.

Gebisa Ejeta

Sorghum Hybrids

Plant geneticist Gebisa Ejeta developed higher-quality sorghum hybrids that are resistant to drought and disease. By increasing the production and availability of sorghum, a versatile and important cereal grain, Ejeta’s efforts have helped feed millions of people across Africa and around the world.

Frank S. Greene Jr.

Semiconductor Memory Technology

Frank S. Greene Jr. was a pioneering electrical engineer, inventor and entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. He developed high-speed semiconductor memory systems, including the fastest microchip then available for the ILLIAC IV supercomputer. Recognizing the need for greater participation in STEM fields, Greene also was dedicated to mentoring the next generation.

Maurus Logan

Ty-Rap^® Cable Ties

Electrical engineer Maurus Logan invented cable ties to address worker safety and wiring installation inefficiencies in the aviation industry. Now a billion-dollar market segment, cable ties, also known as zip ties, are used in a wide variety of industries and projects, from aerospace to agriculture to DIY home improvement.

George Maison, Irving Porush and Charles Thiel

Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI)

George Maison, Irving Porush and Charles Thiel invented the pressurized metered dose inhaler. Introduced in 1956 to manage asthma, it was the first portable inhaler that effectively delivered medicine to the lungs. The MDI has saved lives and improved the quality of life for hundreds of millions of patients.

Teresa Meng

CMOS Wi-Fi

Teresa Meng’s groundbreaking research, engineering expertise and entrepreneurial leadership revolutionized Wi-Fi, making it faster, more energy-efficient and more affordable. As the founder of Atheros Communications, she pioneered the integration of all communication functions onto a single CMOS chip, laying the technical foundation that drove the widespread adoption of Wi-Fi.

Henry Samueli

Broadband Communications

Electrical engineer Henry Samueli advanced broadband communications, creating solutions that enabled affordable, high-speed digital data transmission to homes and businesses. He is the co-founder of Broadcom Inc., a global leader in wired and wireless communications.

Reuben Trane

Lightweight Convector Radiator

Mechanical engineer Reuben Trane began making advancements to heating and cooling technologies early in the 20th century, providing reliable comfort for homes and commercial buildings around the world. With his innovations and business leadership, The Trane Co. became an industry giant. Over a century later, the brand remains a leader.

Feng Zhang

CRISPR Gene Editing

Feng Zhang has invented transformative technologies to improve human health, including first demonstrating the use of engineered CRISPR-Cas9 systems for genome editing in human cells. He has co-founded several companies to commercialize these technologies.

Learn More About Our 2026 Inductees

These life-changing inventors will officially join the National Inventors Hall of Fame at our 2026 Induction Ceremony in Washington, D.C., on May 7.

Keep exploring our website to learn more about each of our newest Hall of Fame Inductees.