Chad Pittman

Chad Pittman is the president and CEO of Purdue Research Foundation (PRF). He brings more than 20 years’ experience in technology commercialization, real estate development and economic development and as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army to help drive technology commercialization for the betterment of humankind.

PRF supports Purdue University’s land-grant mission by helping the university improve the world through its technologies and graduates. Established in 1930, PRF is a private, nonprofit foundation.

Pittman joined PRF in 2014 as vice president for the Office of Technology Commercialization, where he managed the development and implementation of strategies to commercialize Purdue technologies. In 2018, he was promoted to vice president of national security and defense development. In that position, he was instrumental in bringing valued partners like Saab, TSMC and SK hynix into the Purdue ecosystem by connecting Purdue’s research and workforce capabilities to the business community. Before becoming president and CEO, Pittman worked as PRF’s chief executive of economic development in 2020. 

Pittman was the chief of staff and executive vice president for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) prior to joining PRF. 

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Kelley School of Business, a JD from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, and a master’s in national security and strategy with distinction from the Naval War College. He is also a member of the Indiana National Guard. Pittman lives in Zionsville with his wife and four children.