Tom McDermott (engineer)
Encyclopedia
Tom McDermott is the Deputy Director and Director of Research at the Georgia Tech Research Institute
, a position he has held since 2007.
, where he received a Bachelor of Science
in Physics
in 1982, and a Master of Science
in Electrical Engineering
in 1984. While at Georgia Tech, he played drums in the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Marching Band
.
where he would eventually be Chief Engineer
and Program Manager
for Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor
Avionics Team. McDermott worked for Lockheed Martin from 1984 to 2002.
's Electronic Systems Laboratory
, where he assumed control of their largest contract, the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP). In 2006, McDermott was promoted to Director of the Electronic Systems Laboratory.
While at Georgia Tech, McDermott has been involved in the creation of a new professional master’s degree program in systems engineering
, a collaboration between GTRI
and the College of Engineering
. He teaches short courses on topics including electronic warfare
principles, systems engineering team leadership, and earned value principles.
In September 2007, McDermott was named Deputy Director and Director of Research, where he oversaw GTRI's research agenda, its seven research labs, field offices, and new operations in Athlone, Ireland. He was Interim Director of GTRI between Stephen E. Cross
's start as Executive Vice President for Research on May 1, 2010 and the placement of current GTRI director Robert McGrath
on February 1, 2011.
Georgia Tech Research Institute
The Georgia Tech Research Institute is the nonprofit applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
, a position he has held since 2007.
Early life and education
McDermott attended the Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, where he received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
in 1982, and a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
in 1984. While at Georgia Tech, he played drums in the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Marching Band
Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Marching Band
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Marching Band is the official marching band of the Georgia Institute of Technology...
.
Lockheed Martin
On graduation, McDermott joined the nearby Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems in Marietta, GeorgiaMarietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
where he would eventually be Chief Engineer
Chief Engineer
In marine transportation, the chief engineer is a licensed mariner in charge of the engineering department on a merchant vessel. "Chief engineer" is the official title of someone qualified to oversee the entire engine department; the qualification is colloquially called a "chief's...
and Program Manager
Program Manager
Program Manager is the shell of Windows 3.x and Windows NT 3.x operating systems. This shell exposed a task-oriented graphical user interface , consisting of icons arranged into program groups. It replaced MS-DOS Executive, a file manager, as the default Windows shell.The program derives from the...
for Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor
F-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals...
Avionics Team. McDermott worked for Lockheed Martin from 1984 to 2002.
Georgia Tech
In 2002, McDermott would join the Georgia Tech Research InstituteGeorgia Tech Research Institute
The Georgia Tech Research Institute is the nonprofit applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
's Electronic Systems Laboratory
GTRI Electronic Systems Laboratory
The Electronic Systems Laboratory is one of eight labs in the Georgia Tech Research Institute.-Research areas:ELSYS focuses on systems engineering solutions in electronic defense; modeling, simulation and analysis; countermeasures technique development; sensors performance analysis; electronic...
, where he assumed control of their largest contract, the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP). In 2006, McDermott was promoted to Director of the Electronic Systems Laboratory.
While at Georgia Tech, McDermott has been involved in the creation of a new professional master’s degree program in systems engineering
Systems engineering
Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over the life cycle of the project. Issues such as logistics, the coordination of different teams, and automatic control of machinery become more...
, a collaboration between GTRI
Georgia Tech Research Institute
The Georgia Tech Research Institute is the nonprofit applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
and the College of Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology College of Engineering
The College of Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technologyprovides formal education and research in more than 10 fields of engineering, including:...
. He teaches short courses on topics including electronic warfare
Electronic warfare
Electronic warfare refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and ensure friendly...
principles, systems engineering team leadership, and earned value principles.
In September 2007, McDermott was named Deputy Director and Director of Research, where he oversaw GTRI's research agenda, its seven research labs, field offices, and new operations in Athlone, Ireland. He was Interim Director of GTRI between Stephen E. Cross
Stephen E. Cross
Stephen E. Cross is the current Executive Vice President for Research at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a position to which he was appointed in 2010. Previously, he served as the director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute from 2003 until 2010. He was also previously the director and...
's start as Executive Vice President for Research on May 1, 2010 and the placement of current GTRI director Robert McGrath
Robert McGrath
Robert "Bob" T. McGrath is the director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute, the applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology, a position he has held since February 1, 2011...
on February 1, 2011.