Engineering the Future Since Day One

Decades of Excellence in Engineering Systems and Solutions

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1924
Industrial Option

Industrial Engineering first appears as the "Industrial Option" in the mechanical engineering curriculum.

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1945
Department of Industrial Engineering

Georgia Tech President Blake Van Leer oversees creation of a Department of Industrial Engineering housing 15 students and three professors working in two borrowed rooms in the Swann Building. 

Frank Groseclose, who will later become known as the “father of industrial engineering” at Georgia Tech, becomes the first professor.

1946
First Bachelors of Industrial Engineering

Frank Groseclose becomes the first director of the Department. 

The Department awards its first Bachelors of Industrial Engineering.

1947
Master in Industrial Engineering

The department begins its graduate program offering a Master in Industrial Engineering.

1948
School of Industrial Engineering

The Georgia School of Technology is renamed to the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the department becomes the School of Industrial Engineering. 

The School establishes a chapter of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, and awards its first Master in Industrial Engineering.

1949
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering ABET accreditation

The BSIE degree first receives accreditation from ABET and relocates to the A. French Building. 

The School founds the Journal of Industrial Engineering.

1951
Continuing Education

The School begins its tradition of offering continuing education courses by hosting short courses to increase industry application.

1956
Georgia Tech’s first two female graduates

Diane Michel, one of the first two women to enroll at Georgia Tech in 1952, completes her IE degree and becomes one of Georgia Tech’s first two female graduates.

1958
Doctoral program

The School initiates its doctoral program with a class of six students. 

Harold Smalley joins the School and founds a Health Systems program.

1966
Robert Lehrer

Robert Lehrer becomes the second school chair and leads the School into the era of operations research and systems engineering.

1969
School of Industrial and Systems Engineering

The School adds the word "Systems" to its name, becoming the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

1971
Master of Science in Operations Research

The School begins offering a Master of Science in Operations Research.

1974
Senior Design

The School adds a Senior Design course to its undergraduate curriculum.

1978
Michael Thomas

Michael Thomas becomes the third school chair and develops the School's research and graduate programs.

1979
Material Handling Research Center

John White founds the Material Handling Research Center to expand material handling research and industry outreach. 

John Jarvis and Don Ratliff create the Production Distribution Research Center to develop logistics optimization systems for the military.

1982
first female Ph.D. recipient and faculty member

Jane Ammons becomes the School's first female Ph.D. recipient and faculty member.

1983
Frank Groseclose Building

The School moves into the new Frank Groseclose Building on West Campus.

1984
ISyE Alumni Advisory Board

The School creates the ISyE Alumni Advisory Board.

1985
A. Russell Chandler III Chair

The School establishes its first endowed chair, the A. Russell Chandler III Chair, and awards it to George Nemhauser.

1986
George Nemhauser

George Nemhauser is elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

1987
John White

John White is elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

1988
Ellis Johnson

Ellis Johnson is elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

1989
John Jarvis

John Jarvis becomes the fourth school chair and moves the School to a computer-based program.

1991
Manufacturing Research Center

The Manufacturing Research Center opens, setting the hallmark for corporate research cooperation. 

William B. Rouse is elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

1992
The graduate program obtains a No. 1 ranking again by U.S. News & World Report

The School merges several research centers into The Logistics Institute with Don Ratliff as the executive director, Edward Frazelle, Ph.D. IE 1989, directing the professional education activities, and George Nemhauser directing the research activities. The graduate program obtains a No. 1 ranking again by U.S. News & World Report and begins an impressive consecutive run of years in the top spot.

1994
ISyE Web presence

Professor Thiruvenkatasamy “Govind” Govindaraj becomes interested in the new presentation format called the World Wide Web. He develops a Web page that included information for his courses and research starting the initial efforts for the School to have a Web presence.

1995
The faculty is rated the best in the nation

The faculty is rated the best in the nation according to the National Research Council.

1996
Leon McGinnis founds the Keck Virtual Factory Laboratory

Leon McGinnis founds the Keck Virtual Factory Laboratory to develop detailed models to support system design and operation in the manufacturing domain. 

Donald Ratliff is elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

1999
Georgia Tech’s first endowed School Chair

H. Milton Stewart, Jr., IE 1961, and Carolyn J. Stewart, Honorary Alumnae 2008, establish the H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair as Georgia Tech’s first endowed School Chair. 

Georgia Tech adopts the semester system. 

An 18-month Master of Science in International Logistics (known as the Executive Master in International Logistics & Supply Chain Strategy program) is established. The School collaborates with the National University of Singapore to open The Logistics Institute-Asia Pacific for research and education programs in global logistics.

2001
William Rouse

William Rouse becomes the H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair, making him the fifth school chair and leads the School's efforts in enterprise transformation and globalization.

2002
Summer study abroad program

The School initiates a Hong Kong-Singapore undergraduate summer study abroad program that becomes the Beijing- Singapore study abroad in 2004.

2003
ISyE Main Building

The School expands into the old College of Management Building, now the ISyE Main Building, following the opening of Technology Square.

2004
Jeff Wu

Jeff Wu is elected into the National Academy of Engineering.

2005
Chelsea “Chip” White III

Chelsea “Chip” White III becomes the H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair, making him the sixth school chair.

2006
H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Through the generosity of H. Milton Stewart, Jr., IE 1961, and family, the School becomes endowed as the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. 

The Logistics Institute is renamed the Supply Chain & Logistics Institute.

2007
Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems

Pinar Keskinocak, Julie Swann, and Ozlem Ergun found the Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems to improve the human condition and promote wellness through the development of tools and collaborations that transform decision making and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of health and humanitarian systems.

2011
Jane Chumley Ammons

Jane Chumley Ammons is named the H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair, making her the seventh school chair. She is the first female to be named chair in the College of Engineering. 

ISyE establishes a one-year Master of Science in Supply Chain Engineering. 

William J. Cook is elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

2014
Interdisciplinary Master of Science in Analytics

ISyE establishes a one-year interdisciplinary Master of Science in Analytics.

2015
H. Edwin Romeijn and George Nemhauser

H. Edwin Romeijn is named the H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair, making him the eighth school chair. 

George Nemhauser, A. Russell Chandler III Chair and Institute Professor, is awarded the prestigious Georgia Tech Class of 1934 Distinguished Professor Award. He gave the Georgia Tech graduate commencement address in fall 2015. 

The Supply Chain and Logistics Institute and Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems become Interdisciplinary Research Centers.

2017
Arkadi Nemirovski

Arkadi Nemirovski is elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

2018
Jianjun "Jan" Shi

Jianjun "Jan" Shi is elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

2020
Alexander Shapiro, Arkadi Nemirovski, and Jeff Wu

Alexander Shapiro is elected to the National Academy of Engineering. 

Arkadi Nemirovski is elected to the National Academy of Sciences. 

Jeff Wu, Coca-Cola Chair in Engineering Statistics, receives the Georgia Tech Class of 1934 Distinguished Professor Award.

2025
Pinar Keskinocak

Pinar Keskinocak is named the H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair, making her the ninth school chair. She is the second female to be named chair in the College of Engineering.