Dr. William "Bill" G. Sullivan attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, majoring in Industrial Engineering and Economy. After graduation, he was chosen to be one of three graduate fellows to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned his PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering.

Dr. William Sullivan achieved success as a professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Arizona State University in Tempe; and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, VA.

Dr. Sullivan was a registered professional engineer and was a member of IIE, ASEE, IMA, and SME. He served as the founder and coordinator of FAIM, Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, for over 25 years. Dr. Sullivan has authored and co-authored over 35 textbooks, and was working on the 18th edition of Engineering Economy at the time of his death. His books have been used by over a million students worldwide, and printed in every major language. Dr. Sullivan has written over 35 research works with 436 citations and 1,900 reads Dr. Sullivan is a two-time recipient of the Eugene L. Grant Award for the best paper in the Engineering Economist.

Dr. Sullivan was passionate about education and teaching his students. In 2018, Pearson Publishing awarded Dr. Sullivan its highest and most prestigious award: the National Engineering Economy Teaching Excellence Award

Bill was happily married to the love of his life, Janet DePersio Sullivan, for fifty years. Janet preceded him in death in 2015. A grandson passed away in 2022 at the age of 24.

Dr. Sullivan is survived by two loving children - a daughter and a son.

Bill is also survived by his son in law, his twin granddaughters, and his younger brother.

The family requests that any memorial contributions be made to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in Dr. William G. Sullivan's honor, to the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.