William W. Hagerty

William Walsh Hagerty (June 10, 1916 – January 14, 1986) was an American teacher, former NASA Adviser, and president of Drexel University.

Early life Born to William Walsh Hagerty and Alice Amanda (née Lindberg) Hagerty in 1916 Hagerty was raised in Minnesota. In 1939 Hagerty received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota. Hagerty went on to receive his M.S. in 1943 and his Ph.D. in 1947 from the University of Michigan.

He was also responsible for doubling enrollment to over 12,500 students, granting more degrees than all of the previous presidents combined, and increasing the budget from $8 million to $80 million.

During his tenure at Drexel Hagerty was appointed to the board of directors of the Communications Satellite Corporation in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. From 1964 to 1970 Hagerty was an advisor to NASA and served as a board member to the National Science Foundation. He was the recipient of the Bliss Medal, awarded by the Society of American Military Engineers in 1967 and named Engineer of the Year in 1970 by the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers. Hagerty moved to Skidaway Island, Georgia. He died of cancer two years later in Savannah on January 14, 1986.