Jon R. Padfield is an adjunct faculty member for the College of Technology. He has taught courses in statistics, quality and productivity, project management, global technology, and business strategy for ProSTAR’s Weekend Master’s Program since 2009.
Padfield earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology, and his master's and doctorate in technology, all from Purdue. His dissertation research in the Department of Technology Leadership and Innovation focused on the innovation processes used in the United States healthcare system. His research interests include innovation processes, process improvement, and distance education.
A certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Padfield has over 20 years of experience in the automotive, security products, and medical device industries. He has taught corporate training classes on quality improvement and FDA design controls in eight countries across four continents.
“I really enjoy teaching for the College of Technology because it provides me the opportunity to interact with highly talented and motivated students,” Padfield said. “I also find that my years of industry experience are helpful in bringing concepts from the textbooks to life. Being able to share relevant, first-hand examples of how the material in the book applies in real life makes the courses more interesting and memorable.
“The Weekend Masters Program holds a special place in my heart as it allowed me to return to college to improve my skills and marketability at a time in my life when family commitments and career demands would have made it impossible to return to college as a traditional student,” he continued. “I view teaching for the Weekend Master’s Program as a way of giving back to Purdue and keeping connected to a lot of great people from the faculty, staff and students.”
In addition to teaching for Purdue, Padfield provides corporate training and consulting services in process improvement and error prevention through his company, Proffer Brainchild Inc.
He lives in Columbus, Ind., with his wife and daughters.