Announcing the Newest Members of Our 2022 Inductee Class

Congratulations to Our Newest Inductees

We are excited to announce the newest members of the 2022 class of National Inventors Hall of Fame^® Inductees. These five innovators, whose inventions range from cataract surgery to the modern automobile, will join a revolutionary group of Inductees whose innovations have and continue to change the world.

“As a nation, we innovate and we grow. Advancing innovation and entrepreneurship is critical to the future of our country, and the National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees inspire a culture of invention,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “The Department of Commerce congratulates, and celebrates, NIHF’s 2022 class of Inductees.”

In partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), NIHF will hold its Induction Ceremony for the very first time at The Anthem, the renowned music venue and auditorium in Washington, D.C. on May 5, 2022.

In a ceremony on May 4, 2022, Inductees will travel to the NIHF Museum in Alexandria, Virginia, for the Illumination Ceremony, where they will each place their names in the Gallery of Icons^™ exhibit, joining over 600 other Inductees.

Congratulations to the newest members of the 2022 class of NIHF Inductees:

Marian Croak: VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Technology

Lonnie Johnson: Super Soaker^®

Patricia Bath: Laserphaco Cataract Surgery (Posthumous)

Carl Benz: Modern Automobile (Posthumous)

James Buchanan Eads: American Infrastructure and Defense (Posthumous)

Get to Know the Entire 2022 Class of NIHF Inductees

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NIHF postponed the 2021 Induction events until May 5, 2022. The previously selected NIHF Class of 2020 will be recognized along with the NIHF classes chosen for 2021 and 2022. Together, all three classes will comprise the blended Class of 2022 featuring a total of 27 incredible Inductees.

To learn more about the entire blended 2022 Class of NIHF Inductees and discover the stories behind their iconic innovations, we invite you to visit our website.