Lee Martin is a retired Professor of Practice at the University of Tennessee where he directed the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program. In 2022, he was awarded the Nathan W. Dougherty Award. The award recognizes those who have brought honor and distinction to the college through their achievements or who have made significant contributions to the engineering profession in Tennessee through their professional activities. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering from UT and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. He has served on the Knox Area Rescue Ministries Board for the past 20 years and has had numerous other board affiliations including Knoxville Christian Foundation, Global Media Outreach, UT College of Engineering Advisory Board, and the MTSU Honors College Advisory Board. He was the first Executive Director of the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation (now known as Launch Tennessee) and founded TeleRobotics International, Inc. after working as a development engineer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He served on the Baptist and Mercy Health Foundation Boards prior to the start of the Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee.

Lee and his wife, Carla, have three children and four grandchildren. He enjoys tennis, pickleball, and playing the hammered dulcimer.