overview

• William Swart is professor of Marketing and Supply Chain Management at East Carolina University. He holds a Ph.D. in Operations Research and a M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering with Honors from Clemson University. ; His career includes several positions in academia and the private sector.
  In the private sector, prior to obtaining his PhD, he held positions with the Engineering Services Division of E. I. DuPont de Nemours and with the Southern Kraft Division of International Paper Company. After receiving his doctoral degree, he held positions with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Burger King Corporation.
  As a Technical Cooperation Expert with the OECD he was assigned to Turkey, as a visiting professor at the Middle East Techical Univerity, where he helped develop the Tourism Sector input to Turkey’s first five-year economic development plan. His pioneering efforts in using management science during that effort laid the foundation for Turkey’s later emergence as a world class tourist destination and were the subject of several scholarly publications.
  At Burger King Corporation he introduced the use of management science in the restaurant industry. The success of his efforts led to advancement to the position of Corporate Vice President of Operations Systems and later to Vice President of Management Information Systems. His accomplishments resulted in a Finalist Award in the prestigious Franz Edelman Competition for the best applications of management science in the world, sponsored by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS). He also was the recipient of the Applications Award from the Operation Research Division of the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE). ;
  In academia, Dr. Swart’s positions included Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at East Carolina University, Dean of Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology and Old Dominion University, Associate Dean of Business and Economics at California State University, Chairman of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems at the University of Central Florida, and faculty positions at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Miami, and the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies.
  While at the University of Central Florida, he worked closely with the Kennedy Space Center to establish NASA’s first Industrial Engineering function to enhance the efficiency of space shuttle processing. His efforts were recognized through a NASA/JFK Group Achievement Award and a JFK Center Director Presentation. During that time, he also was a co-principal investigator in a multi-year, multi-million-dollar research program sponsored by the U. S. Department of Energy to enhance the energy-efficiency of manufactured housing. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
  Dr. Swart has served as a strategic consultant to several corporations including Taco Bell Corporation. His work in developing labor management systems at Taco Bell earned him a second Franz Edelman Finalist Award for the best application of management science in the world. It also earned him the Achievement in Operations Research Medal from INFORMS.
  Professor Swart has been professionally active in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He is fluent in four languages. He has authored three books, numerous scholarly publications, and has been Principal Investigator for grants and contracts exceeding $10 million.