Educated at the University of Michigan (BS Aerospace Engineering) and UCLA (Master's in Mechanical Engineering). In 2008, Dewald became Director of Product Development at Schneider Optics, Inc., a well-known lens and professional filter manufacturer, where he leads an international team on digital cinema developemnt while simultaneously helping to expand and improve Schneider's entire optical product line.

Dewald came to Schneider Optics with over twenty years of optics technology experience, including twelve years as Senior Member of the Technical Staff and manager of the Optical Technology Group for Texas Instruments DLP Products. During his tenure at Texas Instruments, Dewald designed the complete optical system for the first two generations of DLP Cinema projectors, and was the lead optical engineer for their 3-chip DLP Projector, which captured over 80% market share in the high-brightness/rental market. Most recently, Mr. Dewald has worked on several generations of rear-projection DLP television optics, and designed the cell-phone sized DLP "pico-projector" that was shown at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, 2008.

Prior to joining Texas Instruments in 1996, Dewald held optical technology and engineering positions at Tencor Instruments, Tamarack Storage Devices, Advanced Laser Projection and Optic Electronic Corp.

  2009: For his contributions furthering the design and refinement of the Texas Instruments DLP Projector, achieving a level of performance that enabled color-accurate digital intermediate previews of motion pictures. (w. Brad Walker, Bill Werner and Greg Pettitt)

1 Sci/Tech Award