Rising Star Professorship given by Schmidt
World-class faculty are at the heart of the Purdue University College of Engineering and the School of Industrial Engineering. Rising Star Professorships are awarded to Assistant or Associate Professors who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments and leadership in research, teaching and engagement. These professorships are a form of recognition awarded for a limited term of three years or until the awardee is promoted to Full Professor, whichever is earlier. The initial Thomas and Mrs. Jane Schmidt Rising Star Professor is Dr. Gesualdo Scutari.
Schmidt currently serves as an Adjunct Instructor of History at Florida State College Jacksonville (FSCJ). But from his early days as a Purdue IE grad and for the next 40 years, the railroad industry “transported” his career.
Fresh out of Purdue IE in 1969, Tom spent his first six years as an Industrial Engineer, Assistant Trainmaster, and Operations Control Officer for the Penn Central and Missouri Pacific Railroads. In 1975 he moved to the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad where he became Chief Engineer in 1977 and in 1980 Chief Engineer of the Delaware & Hudson Railway. In 1985 he began an illustrious 19-year career with CSX Railroad, serving, among other positions as:
- Chief Engineer for Maintenance of Way, 1987-1990
- Assistant Vice President for Operating Systems, 1990-1991
- President, Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railway Co. (CSX subsidiary), 1991-1992
- Vice President of Engineering, CSX Transportation Inc., 1992-1995, and 1999-2003
- Vice President of Service Design, 1995-1997
- Vice President Signal Technology, 1997-1999
In 2004 he was appointed Vice President of TranSystems Corporation where he served until his retirement in 2009. On leave from TranSystems, he briefly assumed the position of Amtrak’s Assistant Vice President, Transportation in 2006.
Afterwards, he changed career “tracks” - earning an MA in History from the University of North Florida in 2012 and then teaching American History at FSCJ. He has also served as a history instructor at the University of North Florida Division of Continuing Education (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute).
Schmidt earned his BSIE degree (1969) from Purdue, his Juris Doctor (JD) Degree (1975) from Saint Louis University, and his Masters of Arts (MA) Degree in History (2012) from the University of North Florida.
Tom and Jane have been married 43 years and have three grown children and one grandchild. They live in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, and Spirit Lake, IA.
The Purdue University School of Industrial Engineering is grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt for the Rising Star Professorship.