Rob Pettit, Ph.D.

After 30+ years in industry and nearly 20 years as an adjunct professor, I followed my  passion for teaching and joined George Mason University's Department of Computer Science full-time starting with the Fall 2021 semester. As a Professor of Practice, I leverage my industry experience while teaching courses in computer science and software engineering. Additionally, I serve as the Director of New Graduate Programs, where I am responsible for coordinating efforts associated with our new online offerings as well as the advancement of our Bachelor’s-Accelerated-Master’s (BAM) program and retention across the M.S. CS and SWE programs.

My research and practical interests include real-time embedded software; software modeling and design; model-based engineering; and software performance analysis; and mission assurance for critical software systems. As a Professor of Practice, I maintain these skills through consulting relationships primarily with The Aerospace Corporation, where I have spent the last 20+ years supporting mission assurance for spaceflight software.  I also serve as the Steering Committee Co-Chair for IEEE's International Symposium on Real-Time Computing (ISORC) and am an editor for the International Journal of Software and Systems Modeling (SoSyM).    

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, enjoying outdoor activities and traveling - particularly to Europe and any location with mountains.  

I am also a USA Track & Field (USATF) Level 2 certified throwing coach. I have coached two high-school All American throwers in discus and shot put; multiple All State throwers; and the current Virginia boys' record holder in the shot put.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness”
~ Mark Twain
“Fascism is cured by reading, and racism is cured by traveling”
~ Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo