Throughout his career, Peterson has played an active role in helping to establish the national education and research agendas, serving on numerous industry, government, and academic task forces and committees. A distinguished scientist, he was appointed in 2008 by President George W. Bush, and again in 2014 by President Barack Obama, to serve as a member of the National Science Board, which oversees the NSF and advises the President and Congress on national policy related to science and engineering research and education. He has served as a member of a number of congressional task forces, research councils, and advisory boards, including the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Research Council (NRC), and the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). In addition, he has served as a member of the Board of Directors and vice president for education for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE). In August 2016 he became chair of the NCAA Board of Governors, the highest governing body of the NCAA.  

Fundamental aspects of phase change heat transfer