John J. McKetta Jr. (October 17, 1915 – January 15, 2019) was an American chemical engineer known for his research on more efficient ways to create energy and the thermodynamic properties of hydrocarbons.
He joined the faculty of the chemical engineering department of the University of Texas in 1946, later serving as department chair, dean of the UT College of Engineering, and vice chancellor of the UT System.
He served as energy advisor to Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush.
He published over 400 papers and wrote or edited 87 books, including the 68-volume "Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design".
In 1997, Trine University named its department of chemical engineering in his honor[1] and in 2016 Trine named him "Patron Saint of the Faculty" in honor of his dedication to his alma mater.