From his early years growing up in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Dr. Pettiford knew he wanted to be an engineer. That focus and dedication led him to join the ROTC where he received the award of Air Force Cadet of the Year. Upon graduation with Magna Cum Laude honors from high school, he started his engineering education at the University of Hawaii.
His career in the United States Air Force grew as he matriculated with a Bsc. in Electrical Engineering then a MS in Electrical Engineering from Dayton University. His work in the Air Force Research Lab led to innovative patents in the electromagnetic space that successfully transferred to industry. Upon leaving the military, he entered industry at Corning Inc where he continued to innovate. He eventually attended Northeastern University and graduated with a Ph.d in Electrical Engineering.
Awards, Honors & Certifications
Education
Military, Industry and Academia Experience
2019-Present
Associate Dean of Education, School of Engineering
2015-Present
Full Professor, Liberty University, School of Engineering
2010-2019
Department Chair, Liberty University, School of Engineering
2009-2015
Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering – Liberty University, School of Engineering
2014-2019
STEM Instructor, Lynchburg Regional Governor’s STEM Academy
2012-2019
Board Member, Center for Advanced Engineering & Research
2004-2009
Research Assistant, Northeastern University
Center for Microwave Magnetic Materials and Integrated Circuits
2002-2009
Senior Test Engineer, M/A COM Technology Solutions, Tyco Electronics
1999-2002
Senior Test Systems Engineer, Corning Photonics Division, Corning Inc
1998-1999
Electronic Warfare Systems Engineer
United States Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratories, ATIRCM/CMAWS Common Missile Warning System, SPO
1995-1998
Electronic Device Process Engineer, United States Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratories