Bill Whealon
About Bill Whealon
Bill Whealon is the Executive Vice President of R&D at Silk Road Medical, Inc. with over 30 years of experience in engineering and R&D, including senior roles at Medtronic and founding LasX Industries, Inc.
Title and Current Role
Bill Whealon is currently serving as the Executive Vice President of Research and Development (R&D) at Silk Road Medical, Inc., located in Minneapolis, MN. In this role, he oversees the company’s R&D initiatives, contributing his extensive expertise to drive innovation and development.
Professional Experience
Bill Whealon has over 30 years of experience in engineering and research and development. His career includes significant tenures at several prominent companies. He worked as Vice President of R&D at Medtronic Vascular in Plymouth, MN from 2016 to 2020, where he was responsible for product development across three worldwide sites. Before this, he held multiple senior roles at ev3/Covidien/Medtronic from 2007 to 2016. From 2004 to 2007, he was Principal Staff Engineer and Engineering Manager at Lake Region in Chaska, MN. Prior to that, Whealon spent four years as a Staff Engineer at Seagate Technology in Bloomington, MN.
Entrepreneurial Ventures
In addition to his roles in established companies, Bill Whealon founded LasX Industries, Inc. and served as Vice President of Operations from 1998 to 2003 in White Bear Lake, MN. His entrepreneurial experience highlights his capability to manage and grow technology-driven businesses.
Educational Background
Bill Whealon holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earned from 1987 to 1993. He also holds an M.S. and B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from the same university. This strong educational foundation has been crucial in his extensive career in engineering and R&D.
Industry Contributions and Recognition
Throughout his career, Bill Whealon has made substantial contributions to the engineering and medical device industries. He holds over 15 issued patents, demonstrating his innovative impact. He has black belt certifications in both Design for Six Sigma and Six Sigma, which underscore his commitment to quality and process improvement.