Durnstein Institute of Technology

Born in 1897, Albert J. Durnstein moved from Austria to Pennsylvania in 1920. A World War I veteran, Durnstein saw the future in air flight technology firsthand. From a moderately wealthy family, he was able to establishment an aerospace laboratory in the small town of Warren, Pennsylvania just outside the Allegheny National Forest. Eleven years later, the Durstein Institute of Technology was founded -- specializing in aerospace, naval, and weapons technology.With the coming of World War II, Durnstein played a crucial role in supplying troop support, vehicles, and ammunition across two theaters of operation. It was during this time that Durnstein had one of its greatest expansions -- going from 220 employees to over 1000 in a few short years.In 1947, following the end of World War II and lots of soldiers returning to look for jobs, Durnstein implemented in-depth education programs to fit along with the 1944 GI Bill. Thousands of men learned the skills of engineering and technology; in 1959, racial minorities were permitted to enroll in classes, and in 1960, women were allowed to enroll.Since the 40s, Durnstein has increased its government contracting and expanded its educational arenas from primarily engineering and aerospace into information technology, architecture, healthcare, and environmental services. It now has operations in twenty-three different countries across five continents.