John A. Swanson
| John A. Swanson | |
|---|---|
| Residence | Florida |
| Alma mater |
Cornell University University of Pittsburgh |
| Known for | Founder of ANSYS, Inc. |
| Notable awards | John Fritz Medal (2004) |
| Spouse | Janet |
John A. Swanson is an American engineer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Swanson is the founder of ANSYS, Inc., a John Fritz Medal winner, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He is internationally regarded as an authority and pioneer in the application of finite-element methods to engineering.
Swanson graduated with a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University in 1962 and 1963, respectively. He went on to earn a PhD in applied mechanics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1966. Swanson began his engineering career in 1963 at Westinghouse Astronuclear Laboratory in Pittsburgh and was responsible for stress analysis of the components in NERVA nuclear reactor rockets and served as supervisor of the core analysis and methods group and the manager of the structural analysis group. While there he used and developed computer codes to model and predict transient stresses and displacements of the reactor system. Developing a 3-D analysis model, he wished to integrate different computer codes in order to streamline the processing, but left Westinghouse in 1969 when he was not supported in his endeavors. He then founded Swanson Analysis Systems, which was later renamed ANSYS, Inc., in his home in Pittsburgh in 1970 to develop, support and market the ANSYS simulation software program he was developing. The software became an industry leader for assisting engineers and designers in optimizing product development processes in the aerospace, automotive, biomedical, manufacturing and electronics industries by simulating how products will function in real life. The company eventually grew to employ 1,400 employees and distributes products through a network of business partners in more than 40 countries. Swanson served ANSYS as president, chief executive officer, and director. He retired from ANSYS in March 1999 as the company’s chief technologist.
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