Education
He received degrees in psychology at the following universities:
University of Tennessee (Bachelor of Science 1934)
Brown University (Mississippi 1936)
University of Rochester (Doctor of Philosophy 1938).
He received degrees in psychology at the following universities:
University of Tennessee (Bachelor of Science 1934)
Brown University (Mississippi 1936)
University of Rochester (Doctor of Philosophy 1938).
By focusing his attention on human factors during his time as Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, Fitts became known as one of the pioneers in improving aviation safety. There are also indications Fitts worked in some capacity as a consultant concerning the interview of alleged unidentified flying object witnesses, and was planning work on how terrestrial or psychological explanations could account for unidentified flying object sightings. In 1965 he died unexpectedly at the age of 53.
He was President of Division 21 (Division of Applied Experimental and Engineering psychology) of the American Psychological Association (APA), in 1957-1958.
The association now has a Paul Fitts honorary award. From 1962-1963 Fitts was president of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.