In Memoriam

Hello All,

I am saddened to share that we recently learned about the October 2024 passing of Dr. John R. Adams, a beloved PMI Fellow and influential leader in our profession. John dedicated his career to advancing project management education, accreditation and professional standards.

A member of PMI since 1972, John served in multiple volunteer leadership roles, with increasing responsibilities. He was the associate editor for Project Management Quarterly, led workshops and was a frequent contributor to PMI literature. He was also past president and one of the founders of the original PMI Ohio chapter.

A passionate advocate for education, John played a significant role in integrating project management into academic institutions. In fact, John’s efforts at Western Carolina University helped establish one of the first Master’s degree programs in project management in the United States. His leadership in PMI’s Accreditation Committee helped lay the foundation for what we now know as the Global Accreditation Center (GAC), which influences how project management is taught worldwide.

A former PMI Board Director and Board Chair (1994), John was instrumental in the early development of the PMP® credential, helping to establish the rigorous standards that define today’s gold-standard certification. He was also a strong advocate for building a body of knowledge that would support the profession’s credibility and long-term growth. Beyond his professional contributions, John was a mentor, educator and advocate for project management professionals at every stage of their careers. His influence will continue to be felt for generations. His impact is reflected in the words of his colleagues below.

On behalf of the global PMI community, we extend our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. This year, we plan to give the PMI Fellow Scholarship in John’s honor and we will also pay our tributes to him on the In Memoriam webpage of PMI.org. John made a powerful impact at PMI and his contributions will never be forgotten.

Thanks,
Pierre Le Manh, PMP

++++++++++++++

“John was the key driver for Western Carolina University to being the first project management curriculum. He was a prolific author, served on many PMI Committees and the PMI Board of Directors – to name just a few of his accomplishments.”
-Kent Crawford, PMI Fellow

“John was a giant in PMI’s history.”
-David Pells, PMI Fellow

“Dean Martin and John Adams were USAF Lt. Colonels at AFIT in the late 1980s. When they retired, they both went down to Western Carolina University, where they began what I believe was the first-ever MPM degree in the U.S. I had the privilege of learning from John, and his knowledge and generosity left a lasting impact on me and so many others.”
-Dr. Bud Baker, Emeritus Professor of Management, Wright State University

“He was a humble and sincere man who encouraged me to pursue opportunities within PMI – the rest, as they say, is history.”
-Iain Fraser, PMI Fellow

“John Adams was a leading supporter of the PMP when it was still just a three-ring binder and a policy still in development in the 1980s. He did so much for the academic support of the profession, and he will be greatly missed.”
-Helen Cooke, PMI Fellow

“John Adams was the real deal – his contributions to PMI and project management education will stand the test of time.”
-Fred Arnold, PMI Fellow

“John was integral to those early days when we worked tirelessly to launch the PMP in 1984. His impact on PMI is undeniable.”
-Lee Lambert, PMI Fellow

“John was a statue for us all.”
-Walt Bowman, PMI Fellow