<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001239819</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LUNA INNOVATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LUNA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001370721</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Messick Dale E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 RIVERSIDE CIRCLE, SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROANOKE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>24016</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9488</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.16</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9488</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares received in lieu of cash bonus of $46,625 paid pursuant to the issuer's 2007 Senior Management Bonus Plan.  On March 7, 2008, the Compensation Committee of the issuer's Board of Directors approved the issuance of shares in lieu of a portion of the officer's cash bonus.  The number of shares granted was calculated using the closing price of the issuer's common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market on March 7, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kevin W. Holt, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
