OSA Fellow Stanley S. Ballard (1908–1998 ) was an American physicist, specializing in optics. He was president of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) during 1968–69. In 1977, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by OSA and in 1986 he received the Oersted Medal from AAPT. During World War II, Ballard served as a Commander in the United States Navy.

Ballard obtained his Ph.D and M.Sc. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, and his undergraduate degree from Pomona College. He served on the faculties of several physics departments, including as chairman at Tufts University and the University of Florida. He coauthored the books, Polarized Light (with William A. Shurcliff) and Physics Principles (with Edgar P. Slack and Erich Hausmann).