Ron Pettus has been a faculty member in the Political Science department at St. Charles Community College since 1997. Before that he worked as an engineer in the advanced concepts division of McDonnell Douglas Corporation (now part of The Boeing Company) for almost 33 years. During the last third of his career there, he specialized in "futures research" in which he investigated the nature of future conflict and the impact of advanced technologies on warfare.

Ron has been fascinated by Ancient Egypt and other ancient cultures since he was a teenager. Some years ago he taught himself the rudiments of the Hieroglyphic language with a textbook he mail ordered from Oxford University. For the last fifteen years he has volunteered his time to teach a variety of Egyptology classes in public schools and continuing education departments at SCC and Richland Community College in Decatur, Illinois. He has also led study-tours to Egypt, Greece, stone-age England, and the Aegean Islands. Ron is currently teaching a three credit hour, Introduction to Egyptology at SCC.

Ron plays baritone saxophone in the After Hours Community Band, an all-volunteer, sixty piece wind and percussion ensemble that got its start in his basement and he regularly sits in with a "Big Band" called the Ambassadors of Swing at the Casa Loma Ballroom. He has played the piano since the age of five but refuses to perform in public. He is an enthusiastic but mediocre tennis player and an even worse golfer but loves to play whenever he can find the time. Ron restores vintage and classic automobiles and brews homemade beer and wine. He has been married to the former Joyce Keay all of his adult life and they have two grown sons, Jason and Colin. Two stray cats have chosen to live with the Pettus' and they are, without doubt, the most expensive stray cats in the western hemisphere. Ron's faithful old boxer, named Fudge, passed away early in 2002 at the age of 14.

Ron has a B.S. in Physics, an A. M. in International Affairs, an M.A. in Political Science, and has completed all the requirements for a Ph.D. in Political Science except for the dissertation. He is a Professional Engineer registered in the state of Missouri, a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society, and a licensed pilot. He is also proud to serve as a faculty advisor for the Alpha Xi Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa the International Honor Society of the Two Year Colleges.