Joseph M. Pettit

Joseph Mayo Pettit (July 15, 1916 – September 15, 1986) was an engineer and the president of the Georgia Institute of Technology from 1972 to 1986. He previously served as the dean of the Stanford University School of Engineering from 1958 to 1972.

While president of Georgia Tech, Pettit advanced the causes of research and industrial development at the school.

Early life and career Joseph M. Pettit was born in Rochester, Minnesota.

Georgia Tech Pettit became president of the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1972. During his 14-year tenure as president, Pettit was credited with turning Georgia Tech into a top tier research institution. Pettit has also received credit for shifting Georgia Tech back to its roots with regard to providing assistance with economic development within the state of Georgia. In the decades known for the Vietnam War and the launch of Sputnik, research at Georgia Tech and the Georgia Tech Research Institute had become so tied with NASA and the Department of Defense that local industrial development had been largely forgotten. In 1975, the Georgia General Assembly designated the Engineering Experiment Station (now the Georgia Tech Research Institute) as the "Georgia Productivity Center". Georgia was the first state to designate such a center to encourage business productivity.

In the aftermath of the launch of Scientific Atlanta by Glen P. Robinson and the subsequent disputes, Georgia Tech's culture encouraged hard work, but did not encourage start-ups.

During Pettit's tenure as Georgia Tech's president, the Institute progressed into top tier of technological education institutions. Under his leadership, Tech's research budget surpassed the $100 million mark for the first time in its history. In addition, Pettit spearheaded Tech's historic $100 million Centennial Campaign. Pettit worked closely with J. Erskine Love, Jr. with regard to these fundraising efforts; Love was later asked to deliver the eulogy at Pettit's funeral.

Numerous research centers were established during Pettit's tenure at Georgia Tech.

Pettit died of cancer in 1986, and his vice president of academic affairs, Henry C. Bourne, Jr., served as interim president.

Honors and awards Pettit was awarded the President's Certificate of Merit in 1949 for his contributions during World War II.