Pettus named executive director of Auburn University Applied Research Institute in Huntsville

Auburn University’s Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development has hired Jonathan Pettus as executive director of the Auburn University Applied Research Institute (AUARI) in Huntsville, effective February 1.

Pettus previously worked for 27 years at NASA, where he served in a variety of executive leadership roles including as NASA’s chief information officer and as the associate director of Marshall Space Flight Center. Before joining the Auburn family, he retired from Dynetics/Leidos, where he led a business unit that included programs in space, hypersonics and cybersecurity solutions.

Beginning his career as a high school mathematics teacher and basketball coach, Pettus grew up “intrigued and enthusiastic about space” and technology, he said. Pettus noted he is “excited about the opportunity to help with the overall strategic goal of continuing to grow Auburn’s impact in applied research” and sees a “great opportunity” at AUARI to grow research efforts aimed at solving real-world problems.

“The Applied Research Institute will be in capable hands with Jonathan Pettus as its executive director,” said Steve Taylor, senior vice president for research and economic development. “He brings to the position a wealth of knowledge and experience in the aerospace, defense and advanced technology sectors. I am confident he will help us expand critical applied research efforts that will address important challenges from our government and industry partners.”

The Auburn University Applied Research Institute operates within the Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus in Huntsville's Cummings Research Park near the Redstone Arsenal, a 38,000-acre federal research, development, test and engineering center. The Institute brings together Auburn faculty, research professionals, and students to conduct cutting-edge applied research and development across a range of technology readiness levels to help customers overcome aerospace, defense, national security and biotechnology challenges.