Frank was one of the original co-founders, directors and presidents of TUFF.
His professional background included serving as an executive at IBM, American Software and General Electric. He was also a pioneer in the concept of data center facilities management, now known as outsourcing. An alumni of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Frank also served as the president of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, chair of the Georgia Tech Facilities Corporation, and as trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation.
Frank was one of three notable Georgia Tech alumni from whom then President of Georgia Tech, Joseph Pettit, requested assistance in creating a vibrant and expanded research enterprise at Georgia Tech. President Pettit desired to establish an environment where university-industry partnerships and entrepreneurial startups could thrive alongside university research. In order to support this vision, new research facilities needed to be developed. Unfortunately, at the time, State appropriation funds were not available. President Pettit asked Frank, Richard Whitehead and Thomas Hall to help solve his dilemma. The result was the creation of TUFF.
TUFF’s first engagement with Georgia Tech resulted in the Centennial Research Building, a project that built upon Pettit’s vision and enabled the creation of a vibrant research enterprise.
Frank stayed on the Board of Directors of TUFF until his passing in 2010. In honor of him, the Centennial Research Building was renamed the J. Frank Smith Centennial Research Building.