Robert Pettit

A headshot of Robert Pettit standing outside and wearing a light blue collard shirt, a suit jacket, and patterned neck tie.

Professor of Practice and Associate Chair (Graduate), Department of Computer Science

Contact Information

Office: Engineering 4304
Phone: 703-993-6643
Email: rpettit@gmu.edu
 

Personal Websites

Rob Pettit web page

Biography

Rob Pettit is a professor of practice and associate chair for graduate studies in the Department of Computer Science. He brings more than 30 years of industry experience to his teaching, with deep specialization in real-time embedded software and mission-critical systems. As a professor of practice, he is committed to bridging the gap between classroom theory and professional practice, equipping students with the skills and mindset they will need from day one in industry.

Before joining George Mason full-time, Pettit spent 25 years at The Aerospace Corporation, where he served as the East Coast lead for spaceflight software mission assurance. In that role, he was responsible for independent verification and validation on National Security Space programs--work that placed him at the intersection of software quality, safety, and systems of the highest consequence.

Pettit's service at George Mason extends well beyond the classroom. He serves as the university's representative to the national MS Pathways to Computing Consortium and as the departmental coordinator for Virginia's Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP), contributing to broadened participation in computing and helping the college meet its TTIP graduation targets. He also leads the department's international education efforts, having launched its first faculty-led computer science study-abroad program, and regularly directs summer programs in Vienna, Austria, and winter programs in London. 

Beyond student programs, Pettit coordinates international graduate partnerships for the department, traveling regularly to India to support admitted student events and to cultivate relationships with existing and prospective partner universities. 

Research Interests

  • Software engineering
  • Software design
  • Real-time embedded software
  • Mission-critical software
  • Spaceflight software

Degrees

  • PhD, Computer Science, George Mason University
  • MS, Software Systems Engineering, George Mason University
  • BS, Computer Science / Mathematics, University of Evansville