U.S. Army Awards Psychology Professor For Human Factors Work

Peter Hancock

A psychology professor’s work at the intersection of people and machines recently earned him the U.S. Army’s Civilian Service Achievement Medal.

Pegasus Professor and Provost Distinguished Research Professor Peter Hancock, Ph.D., specializes in human factors, a unique discipline that blends human behavior and engineering. It’s behind the design of everything from medical equipment to smartphones or, in the military sector, cockpits and training exercises.

Hancock works closely with the U.S. military, including contributing to the Army Science Board for studies like the 2020 Advanced Army Modeling and Stimulation study. His work provides a comprehensive, science-based framework for leadership and technical decision making.

“It’s rewarding to know my contributions will play a part in keeping troops safe,” Hancock said.

Hancock joined the Army Science Board following the recommendation of UCF Assistant Vice President for Research and Innovation Michael Macedonia, Ph.D., also a member of the Army Science Board.

“Without Mike, I would not have been afforded this opportunity. It shows the power of UCF that we have such influential individuals on our campus,” Hancock said.

Hancock’s past committee appointments include the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and National Research Council’s Committee on Human Factors.

His previous awards include the Franklin V. Taylor Award of the American Psychological Association, the Jerome Hirsch Ely Award of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, as well as the Roger Green Medal of the Royal Aeronautical Society of Great Britain.

In addition to the Department of Psychology, Hancock has a joint appointment with the Institute for Simulation and Training as well as a courtesy appointment in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering in the College of Engineering.