Georgia Tech President to be Knighted and Given Medal

According to the French Consulate, "on October 23, Frédéric Doré, Ministry Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the French Embassy in Washington D.C, will bestow the Legion of Honor, in the rank of Knight, upon Dr. Bud Peterson, President of the Georgia Institute of Technology. "

The National Order of the Legion of Honor was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. It recognizes extraordinary accomplishments and outstanding services rendered to France, based on a personal decision by the President of the Republic of France.

Midtown Patch was informed that Dr. Peterson will receive this award in recognition of his dedication to strengthening French-American relations through his support of the Georgia Tech Lorraine campus as well as the annual series of events known as “France-Atlanta”.

Each year, about 200 French and American students study in France and Atlanta thanks to the unique and exemplary implant of the Georgia Tech campus in Metz, France, offering a double-degree that is recognized in both countries.

“Dr. Bud Peterson is a visionary leader that has tremendously contributed to French-American relations in the U.S. Southeast,” said French Consul General Denis Barbet. “Not only has he demonstrated enthusiastic support for the Georgia Tech Lorraine campus and the creation of the Lafayette Institute in Metz, France, a technology transfer platform that will benefit both American and French researchers, but he has also personally invested himself and his university to reinforce transnational cooperation through the France-Atlanta initiative.”

Dr. G.P. “Bud” Peterson has served as President of Georgia Tech since April 2009.  In addition to working for several years in the American university system, he also has experience as a research scientist for NASA and a high school teacher.