The Department of Chemistry Leadership Board was established in the Spring of 2011 to provide guidance and support for the Department’s continual drive for excellence. The Board, made up of business, academic, and community leaders, adopted the mission statement: “To offer leadership and guidance, to provide financial strength, and to achieve national acclaim as a top 10 Department of Chemistry.”
John C. Heaton
Vice President of Research and Development VistakonContact Lens Products
Biographical Info
John is the Vice President of Research and Development for Contact Lens Products at Vistakon, a Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. He has over 20 years of experience in developing and commercializing new products. In his 20+ years at Vistakon he has served in a leadership capacity in numerous key areas including Product Development, Clinical Research, Commercialization Engineering and Materials Science.
John joined Vistakon in 1983 as one of three R&D professionals charged with the development of ACUVUE? contact lenses. He received the Johnson Medal in 1992 for his contributions in the development of ACUVUE? lenses. Since that time he has contributed to the development and commercialization of over 20 products which have contributed to the growth of Vistakon from a $10 Million regional company to a global leader in the industry having sales in excess of $2 Billion.
John holds a BS degree in Chemistry from the University of Florida and an MBA from the University of North Florida and has authored/co-authored numerous patents.