John David Crawford (1954–1998^[1]) was a physicist and professor at the University of Pittsburgh.^[1] He obtained his undergraduate degree with honors from Princeton University in 1977 and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1983.^[1]

An internationally recognized researcher in theoretical physics, he specialized in plasma physics and nonlinear dynamics.^[2] His broad physical insight and deep knowledge of mathematics enabled him to make profound contributions to dynamical systems.^[2] He published more than 80 research papers and wrote a landmark review on bifurcation theory.^[3] Additionally, he was also a codirector of the "Research Experiences for Undergraduates" program, which exposed undergraduates to scientific study, in 1997.^[1]

Apart from his research, he was a passionate mountain climber. He died on August 23, 1998, at the Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh of Burkitt's lymphoma, a form of lymph cancer.^[1]

In 2001, SIAM's Activity Group in Dynamical Systems established the J.D. Crawford Prize, which is now the world's top award in dynamical systems.^[4]

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