Dr. James “Jesse” Norris, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder
Dr. James “Jesse” Norris, Ph.D., is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of WAHTS Hearing LLC. With over 20 years of engineering experience in biomedical systems, acoustics, and applied research, Jesse combines technical expertise with entrepreneurial vision at WAHTS. He plays a key role in advancing the company’s boothless, wireless audiometric testing technology, ensuring it delivers reliable, clinical-standard results in real-world occupational and healthcare environments.
Professional Background:
Jesse is a biomedical engineer and entrepreneur committed to improving health through innovative technologies. He earned his doctorate in Biomedical Engineering through an interdisciplinary program at Virginia Tech and Wake Forest University. He started his career at Creare (Hanover, NH), a leading R&D engineering firm. At Creare, he led and contributed to projects across various fields, including aerospace inspection, biomedical devices, and auditory protection and assessment. Notably, he oversaw the technical development of a handheld laser scanning system for F-35 aircraft inspections, working with major manufacturing and maintenance teams facilities.
During his time at Creare, Dr. Norris became deeply involved in addressing hearing health issues while working on multiple projects funded by the Army, Navy, and NIH. Among these, the Wireless Audiometric Hearing Test System (WAHTS), developed together with Dr. Odile Clavier, demonstrated that precise hearing and earplug fit testing could be performed outside traditional sound booths. Recognizing the common misuse of hearing protection in the field, he became an early supporter of boothless audiometry and practical hearing health solutions.
Since 2016, Dr. Norris has supported boothless audiometry, combining technical innovation with efforts to modernize industry best practices. In 2019, he began updating WAHTS manufacturing to comply with FDA medical device regulations, and in 2020, successfully delivered the first large batch of FDA-registered systems to the U.S. Army. This milestone allowed the Army to maintain hearing readiness during a time when COVID-19 had halted traditional booth testing.
Building on this success, Dr. Norris co-founded WAHTS Hearing in 2023 to further develop the technology into a market-ready platform. WAHTS Hearing is creating a disruptive, field-deployable solution for hearing assessment and protection, with uses in defense, occupational, and consumer markets. His goal is to make hearing assessment as easy to access as blood pressure monitoring—empowering individuals, employers, and healthcare systems to protect hearing throughout life.
Education & Credentials:
- Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering — Wake Forest University School of Medicine
- M.S., Mechanical Engineering — Virginia Tech
- B.S., Mechanical Engineering — Virginia Tech
Publications & Research:
Jesse has co-authored peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Hearing Research and Gait & Posture, covering topics including nonlinear ear responses and the biomechanics of aging and walking.
Professional Associations and Service:
National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA)
- Director of Commercial Partnerships, 2023 – Present
- Member since 2021
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- Senior Member (elected) 2020 – Present
- Member 2004 – present
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
- Member 2002 – present
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Reviewer, Special Emphasis Panel Small Business: Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Sciences, 2019, 2020, 2021
Leadership & Values:
Jesse has a passion for end-to-end R&D, excelling in roles that connect early-stage innovation with practical deployment. At Creare, he led technical development across various projects—guiding small, high-risk teams of two to three engineers as well as multi-year efforts with large, cross-disciplinary teams that delivered technologies to the U.S. government, prime contractors, and commercial partners. His leadership is characterized by adaptability, technical rigor, and a focus on execution from concept to delivery.
At WAHTS Hearing, Jesse reinforces this commitment by advocating for engineering innovations that redefine clinical standards and broaden access to hearing health. He appreciates solutions that are not only scientifically reliable but also practical, scalable, and meaningful for end users—whether in defense, occupational, or consumer markets.
Personal Insight:
Ask him why cyclocross is one of the most fun types of bike racing.
Connect with Jesse on LinkedIn