Tomblin is the principal investigator on a research program titled "Load Spectrum Development for Unmanned Aerial Systems Airworthiness." Unmanned Aerial Systems are currently a focus area for the center. NIAR researchers Tom Aldag and Allison Bonitati are also heavily involved in the program.
Tomblin has served NIAR's executive director since 2003.  His responsibilities include administrative and technical oversight of NIAR's 15 laboratories. Tomblin is also a Sam Bloomfield Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering at WSU. During his time at WSU, he has directed a number of multi-discipline and multi-investigator projects with external funding exceeding $80 million. He currently serves as the co-director of CGAR, director of the FAA’s Center of Excellence for Composites and Advanced Materials and co-chairman for the Data Review working group Composite Material Handbook 17.