John Michael Cimbala was born in 1957 to John P. Cimbala and Julia Cimbala of North Huntingdon, PA. He was graduated from Norwin High School in North Huntingdon, PA in 1975. He received a B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1979 from the Pennsylvania State University. He then earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California in 1980 and 1984, respectively.

In 1980 John married Suzanne Cimbala. They have two grown sons and reside in Pennsylvania Furnace, a small community several miles west of State College.

John's hobbies include swimming, reading, music, computers, bike-riding, billiards (pool), and racquetball. He also likes to act. Here are some samples - Portraying Charlie Brown , Tribute to Ray Charles .

John Cimbala is a Christian, and has written a short testimony about how and why he became a Christian. He is active in his local church, Fairbrook United Methodist Church , and has been active for many years in the Penn State Christian Faculty/Staff Fellowship .

John Cimbala has given lectures at several churches and to several campus and youth ministries on topics related to the Bible and science, particularly the creation/evolution controversy .