Engineering a Legacy: PNW alumnus Stewart McMillan
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) alumnus Stewart McMillan (B.S.,’77) has dedicated his life to making a difference and serving others. A former volunteer firefighter and fire chief, McMillan took over the leadership of Valparaiso, Ind.-based Task Force Tips Inc. from his father, before eventually establishing the Multi Agency Academic Cooperative (MAAC) Foundation.
His passion for service, which fueled his career, now inspires McMillan’s support of PNW and its current students. He was inducted into the PNW Alumni Hall of Fame in 2023 and serves as a member of PNW’s School of Engineering External Advisory Board.
The generous support of McMillan and his wife, Kathryn, made it possible to establish the PNW Design Studio in the School of Engineering. The studio provides creation, assembly and maker spaces that support student competition and senior design project teams, provide support for teaching and experiential learning and facilitate projects with external stakeholders.
Like Father, Like Son
McMillan developed an interest in engineering at an early age, inspired by his father, Clyde “Mack” McMillan, a mechanical engineer at U.S. Steel in Gary, Indiana.
“My father made his work seem exciting,” says McMillan. “He would come home and tell us about what he was working on. He turned complex projects into fun and exciting stories and puzzles. I was engaged with what he was doing and that’s what inspired me to become an engineer.”
In addition to working at U.S. Steel, the elder McMillan helped build the Fire Task Force, a volunteer fire department that operated as a supplement to the Gary Fire Department. His work as a firefighter inspired him to create an automatic nozzle pressure system for fire hoses, a concept that led to the founding of Task Force Tips Inc., a company that designs and manufactures equipment for first responders. The company opened its doors for business the same year the younger McMillan graduated from high school, with the basement in the family home serving as the base of operation.
[Purdue University Northwest] gave me the opportunity to build a life where I could make a difference.
PNW Alumnus Stewart McMillan (B.S.,’77)
The Path to an Engineering Degree
McMillan’s decision to attend PNW was partly shaped by necessity. As the only employee in the family business, he took the opportunity to earn his degree locally. While working a 40-hour work week, he managed to take the required courses across four engineering disciplines – civil, mechanical, chemical and electrical.
“It took me an extra year to graduate,” says McMillan. “There could have been no better degree for someone going into my business. It absolutely allowed me to communicate with every discipline I needed to communicate with.”
The interdisciplinary engineering degree provided a strong foundation that proved invaluable for his career. It allowed him to engage with vendors, customers and construction teams while the civil engineering knowledge helped with building his company’s manufacturing plants.
“It may have been the only choice at the time,” says McMillan. “But looking back it was the right choice. It gave me the opportunity to build a life where I could make a difference.”
Honoring His Father
After his father’s death in 1982, McMillan became president of Task Force Tips, Inc. The company began in 1971 with less than $14,000 in sales and under McMillan’s leadership grew to nearly $100 million in sales before he sold the business in 2017.
Interested in the fire industry since childhood, McMillan has served as a member of the Union Township and Washington Township fire departments in Porter County, Indiana, holding leadership positions in both departments. This experience provided the inspiration for his next endeavor.
Transitioning from manufacturing life-saving equipment to training the heroes who use it, in 2016 McMillan founded the Multi Agency Academic Cooperative (MAAC) Foundation, a collaborative and comprehensive training campus for emergency services professionals. He currently serves as CEO.
“I always though the business would be my legacy,” says McMillan. “I never imagined that the MAAC Foundation, with all it has done for the community, would be the thing I’ll be remembered for – and I’m okay with that.”
Stewart McMillan (right) poses with family at the 2023 Purdue University Northwest Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Supporting PNW students
McMillan’s motivation for giving back was profoundly affected by a trip to Egypt that reshaped his perspective.
“Seeing those tombs and all the gold those ancient kings tried to take with them just hit me in the face,” says McMillan. “You can’t take it with you. They tried and failed. That experience heightened my desire to slide into home base broke. To leave it all where it matters.”
This realization, along with McMillan’s strong belief in the power of mentorship, drives his support for PNW. What began as a decision to earn his degree close to home in Northwest Indiana has evolved into a legacy of opportunity for the students of PNW and increased safety for first responders. His generous contributions will ensure the spirit of innovation at PNW continues to thrive.
“Victories & Heroes: Your Campaign for Purdue Northwest” is inspired by the powerful stories of alumni and supporters like McMillan, who continue to change PNW students’ lives while supporting the community. We invite you to join us in celebrating PNW’s “Victories & Heroes” by making a gift to expand opportunities for PNW students and further PNW’s positive impact on the community.