John T. Preston is a venture capitalist and entrepreneur who previously ran Technology Licensing for the

Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...

, best known for contributions to the energy, environment, and technology industries. During his 30 years at MIT, Preston held multiple positions mostly focused on the interface between the university and industry and entrepreneurship. Preston was awarded the rank of “Knight of the Order of National Merit of France” ( Ordre national du Mérite) by

François Mitterrand François Marie Adrien Maurice Mitterrand (26 October 19168 January 1996) was President of France, serving under that position from 1981 to 1995, the longest time in office in the history of France. As First Secretary of the Socialist Party, he ...

and the “Hammer Award for Reinventing Government” ( National Partnership for Reinventing Government by

Al Gore Albert Arnold Gore Jr. (born March 31, 1948) is an American politician, businessman, and environmentalist who served as the 45th vice president of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. Gore was the Democratic Part ...

. He also chaired

George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushSince around 2000, he has been usually called George H. W. Bush, Bush Senior, Bush 41 or Bush the Elder to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009; pr ...

’s conference announcing the President’s technology initiative and has testified as a technology expert seven times before Congress. Preston has previously served as a Board Advisor to Mars, Incorporated. Preston is currently on the Board of Clean Harbors, ExThera Medical, Green Cement and Vantem Global. Preston has also filed several patents. Preston earned a BS in physics from the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

(1972) and a master of management degree from

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

(1976).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Preston, John T. Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty Living people Year of birth missing (living people) University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni Northwestern University alumni 20th-century businesspeople