February 18, 2023

Tom Noonan (ME '83), alumnus of the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, has received the Joseph Mayo Pettit Distinguished Service Award as part of the 2023 Gold & White Honors. Noonan, who serves as Chairman of Ten Holdings, LLC, was formally recognized at the Gold & White Honors Gala on February 16, 2023, at Flourish in Atlanta.

The Joseph Mayo Pettit Distinguished Service Award, the Georgia Tech Alumni Association’s highest award, honors alumni who have provided outstanding support to the Georgia Tech community throughout their lives and who have served as leaders within their professions and local communities.

Over the course of his expansive career, Noonan has founded 10 successful businesses. In addition to incredible passion and vision, Noonan has brought his distinct management style to each venture. He has been widely recognized by industry-leading publications like Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Fortune. He is a founding partner of TechOperators LLC, an early-stage technology investment firm in Atlanta. Noonan is also chairman of TEN Holdings, LLC, a diversified family office investment company. Most recently, he was the vice president and general manager of Cisco’s Energy Management business, following the acquisition of his company JouleX in 2013, where he was co-founder and CEO. Noonan serves on several boards, including Children’s Health-care of Atlanta, the Georgia Tech Foundation, and the Georgia Tech Athletic Association.

Why I... honor the Old Gold & White

Georgia Tech has been in my blood since childhood. When I was young, our family home was on Cherry Street directly across from Rose Bowl Field. We watched Coach Dodd and the team practice from our front porch, and I attended all the football and basketball games with my dad. Honoring the Old Gold and White and the tradition of excellence it stands for is gratifying. Despite many changes over the years, Tech has stayed true to our traditions. Our positive impact has been amplified many times around the world and that makes me proud, and it is why I’m always “Up with the White and Gold.”

How had Georgia Tech made an impact on your life?

Almost every aspect of my life would be different had I not attended Tech. Eventually you leave Georgia Tech, but Georgia Tech never leaves you. My wife of 35 years was my freshman chemistry lab partner. The businesses I built over the years have all been built with Tech engineers, colleagues, fraternity brothers, and classmates. My calendar is comprised of events, activities, and travel with various groups of Tech friends. An important part of our family’s philanthropic mission is directed toward Tech. While I cannot even imagine what my life would be like today without the Institute, I seriously doubt it could be any better. While Tech has impacted me personally in many ways, more importantly, it has positively impacted our city, our state, our nation, and the world. Georgia Tech’s impact is felt in so many ways that benefit society through economic development, technological innovation, in the K-12 mission, job growth, and scientific research and innovation.

Content is taken from the Georgia Tech Alumni Association website.