List of Florida Institute of Technology people explained

This list contains people associated with the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida, including current and former college presidents, as well as notable alumni and faculty.

Academia and research

Professors and scholars

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference
Apryl A. Alexander	2009	Forensic psychologist and Clinical psychologist; professor at the University of Denver
José E. Andrade	2001	Civil engineer recipient of Thomas J.R. Hughes Young Investigator Award (2017) and Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize (2018); professor at California Institute of Technology
Randy Borum	1991	Forensic psychologist; intelligence, national security, & cyber defense; served on Defense Science Board; professor at University of South Florida
Mya Breitbart		Oceanographer and marine biologist; professor at University of South Florida
Kent E. Carpenter	1975	Marine biologist professor at Old Dominion University
Kevin C. Dittman		Computer scientist professor at Purdue University
Wassim Michael Haddad	1987	IEEE Fellow specialist in thermodynamics, stability theory, robust control, and dynamical system theory; professor at Georgia Institute of Technology	^[1]
Edward E. Thomas Jr.	1989	Plasma physicist professor at Auburn University

Research, science, technology, and math

Astronauts

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference
Joan Higginbotham	1992	Engineer, NASA astronaut, M.S. Management Science, 1992, M.S. Space Systems, 1996
Kathryn P. Hire	1991	NASA astronaut (STS-90), M.S. Space Technology
Christopher Loria
Frederick W. Sturckow	2000	NASA astronaut, M.S. Mechanical Engineering, veteran of four Space Shuttle missions
Sunita Williams	1995	NASA astronaut, M.S. Engineering Management
George D. Zamka	1997	NASA astronaut (STS-120), M.S. Engineering Management

Business and entrepreneurship

Computers and Internet

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference
Richard Adams		Inventor and founder of Happy Computers	^[2]
Fahri Diner	1989	Founder of Plume and Qtera, which was bought out by Nortel for $3.2 billion
Herbert Hugh Thompson	2002

Executives and finance

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference
Gordon Derrick		Former director of Antigua Commercial Bank
Ryan Gellert	1996	CEO of Patagonia, Inc. and former president of Black Diamond Equipment
Svafa Grönfeldt	1995	Former deputy CEO at Actavis, Executive Vice President at Alvogen, and former president of Reykjavík University	^[3]
David P. Norton		Co-founder of Palladium International; known for working with Robert S. Kaplan to co-create the balanced scorecard approach
Salli Setta	1992	Former president of Red Lobster and executive vice president of Olive Garden under Darden Restaurants
Dia Simms	1992	CEO of Lobos 1707 Tequila & Mezcal and former president of Sean Combs's Combs Enterprises
Jim Thomas		Former president of Sierra and Executive Vice President/CFO positions at MicroProse, Rivian Automotive, and MapQuest; managed the initial public offering of MapQuest
Ronnie Wong	2007

Miscellaneous

Government, law, and public policy

International

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference
Gerald Berkel		Island governor of Sint Eustatius 2010–2016
Saud bin Hilal Al Busaidi	2000	Governor of Muscat, Oman
Kao Kuang-chi		31st Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China, and retired admiral of the Republic of China Navy
Prince Louis of Luxembourg		Third son of Grand Duke Henri (monarch of Luxembourg, 2000–present); studied aeronautics and aeronautical management for two years (c.2009–2011) at FIT
Waleed A. Samkari	1988	Brigadier general former director of the Jordanian Maintenance Corps

Judges

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference
John Antoon	1993	United States federal judge
Catharina Haynes	1983	United States federal judge

Law, politics, and public policy

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference
		Member of the Massachusetts Senate since 2023 and former member of Massachusetts House of Representatives 6th district (2011–2013)
Craig Fugate		Former administrator of Federal Emergency Management Agency^[4]
		Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development under 45th President of the United States Donald Trump
Jeffrey D. Grant		Former director, Office of Plans and Analysis in National Reconnaissance Office; served as a programs director at CIA Directorate of Intelligence, Office of Scientific Intelligence and the Directorate of Science and Technology
		Member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2021
		Auditor of Delaware, 2019–2022
		County executive of Rensselaer County, NY and Member of New York State Assembly 107th district (2011–2017)
Kathy Meehan	1992	Mayor of Melbourne, Florida, 2012–2020	^[5]
Tom Reeder		Member of Wyoming House of Representatives representing 58th district, 2011–2017
		Member of the Florida House of Representatives representing the state's 38th House district since 2018
Stephen R. Speed	1993	Mayor of Dover, Delaware, 2004–2007
Tom Stuart		Mayor of Meridian, Mississippi, 1973–1977	^[6]

Military

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference
James W. Ball		Major general USA, Ret.; served as the 24th Chief of Ordnance
Charles C. Cannon	1976	Major general USA, Ret.; served as the Aide-de-camp to General Dwight D. Eisenhower
David T. Cloft	2007	Lieutenant colonel USA, Ret.; formerly served as executive officer (XO) for U.S. Army Accessions Command; competitive shooter for US National Rifle Team; seven-time national champion and has set 11 US national Rrcords
Jesse Cross	1991	Brigadier general USA, Ret.; 50th Quartermaster General of the United States Army
Jeffrey W. Drushal	?	Brigadier general; chief of Transportation Corps
Ann E. Dunwoody	1987	General USA, M.S., first female four-star general in the military
James L. Herdt	1992	9th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Larry L. Hereth	1992	Commander of the Fifth Coast Guard District of the United States Coast Guard
Galen B. Jackman	1983		^[7]
Dennis K. Jackson
Herbert J. McChrystal		Major general, former commander of United States Army Test and Evaluation Command
Al M. Niles, Jr	2010	Colonel USA, decorated special operations aviator and former wing commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 for Task Force Warfighter
Gustave F. Perna		General, 19th commander of United States Army Materiel Command
Aundre F. Piggee		Lieutenant general, United States Army Logistics Branch Deputy Chief
David A. Score	1989	Rear admiral, 17th Director of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps	^[8]
Steven A. Shapiro	1994	Major general USA, Ret.; served as 9th commanding general of United States Army Sustainment Command
Billy K. Solomon
Mitchell H. Stevenson
Peter Talleri	1997	Major general, former commander of Marine Corps Installations Pacific
Thomas H. Todd III	1997	Lieutenant general; feputy commanding general of United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
Jonathan White	1981	Rear admiral commander of Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command
Johnnie E. Wilson	1977	General USA, Ret.; served as the 25th Chief of Ordnance	^[9]
Cedric T. Wins		Major general USA, Ret.; first commander of reorganized United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM)
Larry D. Wyche
David T. Zabecki	1976	Major general USA, Ret.; former deputy chief of the United States Army Reserve

Humanities, arts, entertainment, and social sciences

Actors

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference
Richard Hatch		Original winner of the CBS Survivor television series
Jim Quinn	1988	Engineer at Orange County Choppers, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering	^[10]

Writers

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference
Lela E. Buis	1991	Author, poet and playwright
Joni E. Johnston	1985
Jazmin Truesdale		Writer and creator of AZA Comics

Science, technology, medicine and engineering

Science and engineering

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference
Addison Bain
Alyssa Carson	2023	Social media influencer and space enthusiast	^[11]
David A. King	1991	Director, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center	^[12]
Ramon Lugo III	1982	Director of Florida Space Institute and former NASA director of the Glenn Research Center
Julius Montgomery	1964	First Black professional in the U.S. Space Program	^[13]
Mike Moses	1989	President of Virgin Galactic; former NASA Space Shuttle program launch integration manager from 2008 until the conclusion of the program in 2011	^[14]
Amy Simon	1993	NASA senior scientist at Goddard Space Flight Center, involved in several missions of the Solar System Exploration Program
Felix Soto Toro	1990	NASA engineer, developed the advanced payload transfer measurement system for NASA	^[15]
Sara Imari Walker	2005	Theoretical physicist and astrobiologist scientist at NASA Astrobiology Institute

Technology

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference
Frank J. Canova	1978
John Cosker	1991	Designer, builder of high end fast powerboats

Sports

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference
Austin Allen			Professional baseball player for New York Mets
Fred Armstrong			Former professional soccer player
Thomas Bohrer			Olympic rower medalist
Keiran Breslin	1994	Professional soccer player
Mark Cartwright			Former professional soccer player and manager of Stoke City F.C.
Robin Chan	1990		Former professional soccer player
	2011
	1989	Professional soccer player
Aubin-Thierry Goporo	1996
	2019	Professional football player for Toronto Argonauts
	2006	Professional soccer player and former captain of the Puerto Rico women's national team Olympic team
	2017	Former professional soccer player
		Professional golfer
Ubaldo Jimenez	2021	Professional baseball player	^[16]
Khalid Outaleb	1986	Former professional tennis player
Ricahard Sharpe	1993	Former professional soccer player
Paul Sturgess		Professional basketball player
Francisco Ubiera	2013
Valur Orri Valsson	2020	Professional basketball player
Tim Wakefield		Professional baseball player
Dwight Walton		Professional basketball player
Narupon Wild	2011	Professional soccer player
Don Wilson		Professional kickboxer
Tom Windle		Professional soccer player
Jiya Wright

Staff and faculty

Florida Institute of Technology presidents

Name	Notability	Reference
Anthony Catanese	President of FIT 2002–2016	^[17]
Winston E. Scott	Vice president of FIT, former NASA astronaut	^[18]

Staff and faculty

See main article: category.

Name	Notability	Reference
	Astronaut second man on the moon; senior advisor and professor of studies on space exploration at FIT, namesake of Florida Tech's Space Institute	^[19]
Samuel Durrance	Former NASA Space Shuttle payload specialist; university professor of physics and space sciences
Mary Helen Johnston (McCay)	Engineer; former NASA astronaut
Cem Kaner	University professor and Director of Center for Software Testing Education & Research
Joan C. Sherman	Chemist

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dr. Wassim M. Haddad. Georgia Tech. January 18, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20130726233056/http://soliton.ae.gatech.edu/people/whaddad/. July 26, 2013. dead.
2. Web site: Richmond, Leigh, "Computer hums its own music" Evening Times Melbourne FL Monday November 11, 1974, A1 . Exoticsciences.com . October 22, 2008 . April 18, 2012.
3. News: The secret to the success of Reykjavik University . IceNews . 8 January 2008 . 2 August 2010 .
4. Web site: Fugate nominated for FEMA director. CNN. Lauren Korneich. March 4, 2009. September 23, 2013.
5. Web site: Former Melbourne Mayor Kathy Meehan will challenge incumbent Mayor Paul Alfrey next year. 16 September 2023 . FloridaToday. February 16, 2024.
6. Web site: Sheila Blackmon/Meridian Star, Tom Stuart, former mayor, dies. 19 November 2001 . Franklin County Times. June 5, 2014.
7. Web site: The Office of The Chief Legislative Liaison . Hqda.army.mil . April 18, 2012 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090327110255/http://www.hqda.army.mil/ocll/DOC/JackmanGalenB.doc . March 27, 2009 .
8. Web site: Rear Admiral David A. Score, NOAA Director, NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps Director, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations . noaacorps.noaa.gov . May 17, 2015.
9. http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/integrate/wilsonarticle.htm African-American Ascends from Private to Four-Star General
10. Web site: Team . Orange County Choppers . April 18, 2012 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120407212719/http://www.orangecountychoppers.com/team . April 7, 2012 .
11. Web site: Ormont Blumberg. Perri. 4 March 2020. Baton Rouge Teenager Alyssa Carson Is Aiming to Be First Human to Walk on Mars. 27 June 2020. Southern Living. EN.
12. Web site: NASA – NASA'S Marshall Center Director David King Receives Presidential Rank Award – Nation's Highest Honor for Federal Service . Nasa.gov . April 18, 2012.
13. Seelye, Katharine Q. "Julius Montgomery, Who Broke a Space-Age Race Barrier, Dies at 90", The New York Times, February 21, 2020, updated February 27, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
14. Web site: Biography of Michael P. Moses.
15. Web site: NASA Quest > Space Team Online . Quest.arc.nasa.gov . April 18, 2012 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120222193856/http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/people/bios/space/soto_toro.html . February 22, 2012 .
16. News: Wagner . James . A Pitcher Never Forgot His Promise to His Mother . 2 July 2022 . . 7 May 2021.
17. News: Florida Tech president retires, returning as professor. Neale. Rick. Florida Today. June 10, 2016. February 10, 2017.
18. https://www.fit.edu/faculty-profiles/emeritus/scott-winston/ Scott, Winston
19. News: Florida Today. Reed. Matt. Buzz Aldrin will become professor at Florida Tech. August 6, 2015. February 10, 2017.