WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. \u2014 Greg Deason has been appointed chief operating officer for Purdue Research Foundation, effective Feb. 1. Deason will work closely with Chad Pittman, who recently was named PRF president and CEO following Brian Edelman\u2019s retirement, also effective Feb. 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deason, currently PRF\u2019s senior vice president of alliances and placemaking, will work with Pittman to provide leadership for the foundation\u2019s strategic operations and business processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor decades Greg has served the Purdue community and will continue to do so in his new appointment,\u201d said Mitch Daniels, Purdue University president emeritus and chair of the PRF board. \u201cHe is a proven leader, and I\u2019m certain he will continue the momentum of impactful growth and strategic use of PRF as a tool for fulfilling Purdue\u2019s land-grant mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGreg Deason is an outstanding choice for this critical role,\u201d Purdue President Mung Chiang said. \u201cHis dedication and execution have resulted in Greater Lafayette becoming a preeminent ecosystem for job creation and economic growth. We appreciate Greg\u2019s experience in and focus on cultivating community, enabling growth and connecting companies to Purdue\u2019s world-class ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before leading the Alliances team in empowering partners to impact the world, Deason served as PRF\u2019s executive director of Purdue Research Park from 2004-16. In that role, he led the team that transformed the park in West Lafayette into an engine for Indiana’s economic development initiatives. He also was instrumental in the creation of three other technology park locations in Indiana beyond West Lafayette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGreg has a long career of serving Purdue and PRF\u2019s valued partners, who have made the university the launchpad for their next giant leap,\u201d Pittman said. \u201cHe has been instrumental in facilitating the attraction and retention of companies like Saab, SEL, Inari and SK hynix during his time at PRF. I\u2019m confident he will continue his legacy of impactful initiatives and keep up the momentum and equity we have built with our partners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am pleased to welcome Greg into this new position,\u201d current PRF President Edelman said. \u201cHe has proven his capacity to be an outstanding leader who always does the hard work to develop a vibrant community for innovators, entrepreneurs and strategic partners at Purdue, Greater Lafayette and across Indiana.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deason also served in various positions at Purdue\u2019s Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. His career there culminated in his appointment as director of innovation and entrepreneurship, a role in which he led the team that created Purdue Foundry and built a world-renowned entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem at the university. That work resulted in over 350 startup companies, placing Purdue at No. 3 for company creation in the nation at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am honored to have the opportunity to take on this new role within PRF,\u201d Deason said. \u201cPurdue provides incredible opportunities for businesses and innovators to turn their ideas into impact across the state, country and world. I look forward to working closely with Chad in the coming years to make sure that the companies and people who choose Purdue get what they need to be successful and thrive in this community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deason also served as the president of the Association of University Research Parks and received its Career Achievement and Outstanding Research Park awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Boilermaker through and through, Deason graduated from Purdue with a bachelor\u2019s in agricultural economics. In 2010 he was named an Outstanding Alumnus of Purdue University and remains active in service to the College of Agriculture and Purdue through the Griffin Society, President\u2019s Council and John Purdue Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Purdue Research Foundation<\/strong><\/a> is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires and sells property; protects and licenses Purdue\u2019s intellectual property; and supports creating Purdue-connected startups on behalf of Purdue. The foundation operates Purdue Innovates, which includes the Office of Technology Commercialization and Incubator. The foundation manages Purdue Strategic Ventures, Purdue Research Park, Discovery Park District, Purdue Technology Centers and Purdue for Life Foundation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org<\/strong><\/a>. For more information about involvement and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact Purdue Innovates at purdueinnovates@prf.org<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n