Each year, the College of Engineering at Georgia Tech recognizes, with an induction ceremony, select alumni who have contributed to the profession, advanced in their careers, and enhanced the lives of others both personally and professionally.
The School of Aerospace Engineering is extremely proud of this year’s awardees, and is looking forward to a special ceremony that will take place this Saturday, April 28th at the Ritz Carlton in Midtown. Congratulations!
J. Daniel Stewart
Executive Director, USAF Materiel Command (SES, Retired)
Associate VP for Research, University of Tennessee
J. Daniel Stewart received his bachelor’s, masters’ and doctorate degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech in 1964, 1965 & 1967, respectively. He later earned his masters’ degree in business as a Sloan Fellow from Stanford University in 1979. He began his career with The Aerospace Corporation in Los Angeles California providing systems engineering and technical support to the AF Space & Missile Systems Organization for major satellite and ballistic missile systems.
In 1974 he joined the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at Edwards AFB where he served as a branch chief and technology manager for a portfolio of technology programs in support of AF space and aeronautical systems developments. He moved on to Eglin AFB, Florida in 1981 where he held various mid-level to senior management positions in the development of new concepts, system acquisitions and test & evaluation culminating in his selection as a member of the federal Senior Executive Service (SES) corps in 1986.
In 1990 he became the Executive Director for the AF Development Test Center, and later the AF Air Armament Center, with responsibilities for the development, test, acquisition and sustainment of air-delivered weapon systems. In 1999 Stewart became the first Executive Director for the AF Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson AFB Ohio with responsibilities for research, development, acquisition, test and sustainment of AF weapon systems across 11 geographically separated product, logistics, test and laboratory operations. Stewart also served details in Washington DC where he represented the AF in the Congressionally-mandated 1995 and 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) activities.
After 37 years of service, Stewart retired from the AF in 2004 and joined the University of Tennessee. As a member of the President’s staff, he provides oversight for research & development activities across the State’s five campuses, as well as for research activities with strategic partners such as the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which UT jointly manages with Battelle Corporation. He also serves as an adjunct professor with the UT College of Business Administration. He has published both papers and reports and is the recipient of numerous honorary awards, most notably four Presidential Distinguished and Meritorious Rank Awards. He currently serves on the Georgia Tech Aerospace Engineering School Advisory Committee, as well as on the AF Studies Board under the National Research Council of the National Academies.