Vaughn Paul Adams, Jr., 83, passed away on June 9, 2021. After beginning his education at Purdue University, Vaughn moved from Chicago, IL to Phoenix, AZ in 1958. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and a M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Human Factors Engineering from ASU. He taught at ASU as a professor of Engineering for twenty years and became ASU's Department Chairman for Engineering Design Sciences. In 1975, he completed his Ph.D. at Texas A&M, in College Station, TX. With his entrepreneurial spirit, he acquired his professional licenses as a Surveyor and Professional Engineer in Arizona, California, and Texas. In 1979, he began his consulting firm, Biotechnics (later named BTI Consultants) which he led until his retirement in 2010. Other highlights of his career included working at the Ames Research Center at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA on the NASA space suit and the Moonlab project. Vaughn also contributed to designing the 69-kV utility structures throughout Arizona for Salt River Project.



Vaughn is survived by his wife Paula "Polly" Adams, three children, four stepchildren, twelve grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by two children.



Viewing will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, from 6-8PM at Green Acres Mortuary in Scottsdale, AZ. Funeral services will be held at Grace Community Church on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at 9AM with burial services to follow at Green Acres Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), Palo Verde Chapter. (Source: Arizona Republic)