FIT’s McCay Earns Lifetime Achievement In Technology Award

By  //  November 20, 2012

Presented By Congressman Bill Posey

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA Florida Institute of Technology’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer T. Dwayne McCay was recently presented with the Lifetime Achievement in Technology Award, a congressional medal bestowed by Congressman Bill Posey.

Florida Tech’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer T. Dwayne McCay, left, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement in Technology Award by Congressman Bill Posey.(Image courtesy Florida Tech)

The award was made at the Melbourne Regional Chamber of East Central Florida’s  Second Annual TechNovation banquet.

“While certainly a distinct honor, the presentation is also a humbling reminder of a shared mission,” McCay said. “Expanding knowledge to improve the human condition is at the core of what all scientists and engineers labor to achieve. Pursuing that work is indeed the highest privilege.”

McCay, who earned a doctoral degree from Auburn University in 1974, previously served as vice president for research and information technology for The University of Tennessee system. He also served as Alumni Distinguished Service Professor of Engineering Science and Program Chair of Engineering Science and Mechanics at The University of Tennessee Space Institute.

Prior to joining the University of Tennessee in 1986, he was senior engineer, branch chief and division chief at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and a senior research physical scientist at the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory.

McCay has taught as an adjunct professor at Auburn University, California State University at Fresno and the University of Alabama at Huntsville and has over 100 technical publications to his credit, including three books. He was also associate editor for the Journal of Propulsion and Power from 1991-1993. In addition, he has been awarded 16 patents; two resulted in spin-off companies.

While in Florida and Tennessee, McCay has served on numerous economic development boards. He chaired the Tennessee Valley Aerospace Region board, and was chairman of The University of Tennessee Research Corporation board, which is the intellectual property agent for The University of Tennessee. In 2009, he was appointed by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden to serve on the Education and Outreach Committee of the NASA Advisory Council.

McCay became provost and chief academic officer at Florida Tech in 2003. He was named executive vice president and chief operating officer in January 2011.

As COO, McCay is responsible for all operating units of the university and reports directly to the president.