Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

February 27, 2004

Vittal elected to National Academy of Engineering

Vijay Vittal

Vijay Vittal, Harpole Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), one of the highest distinctions accorded an engineer.

Vittal is one of 76 new national members and 11 new foreign associates elected to the NAE, and the second member of the Iowa State engineering faculty to be so honored in the past year. (R. Bruce Thompson, distinguished professor of aerospace engineering and materials science engineering, was elected to the academy last fall.)

Vittal's research covers a wide range of electrical and power system issues, including power system dynamics, dynamic security assessment of power systems, power system operation and control, and application of robust control techniques to power systems.

An internationally recognized leader in his field, Vittal is the author of two textbooks in power system analysis. He was program director for power systems for the National Science Foundation's division of electrical and communications systems from 1993 to 1994, and currently directs the Electric Power Research Center at Iowa State.

He has received numerous awards and distinctions from professional societies, including the Outstanding Power Engineering Educator Award from the Power Engineering Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in 2000.

Vittal will be installed into the academy this fall during a ceremony in Washington, D.C.