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WPI Names First Director of Systems Engineering

Don Gelosh, a Veteran of U.S. Air Force, NASA Programs, Joins the University

WPI has named Don Gelosh as its first director of systems engineering for the university’s Corporate and Professional Education (CPE) group. He began his duties Jan. 30, and is working closely with companies and organizations involved in the systems engineering field, and with WPI’s faculty in the development of its systems engineering programs. 

Gelosh has more than 36 years of systems engineering experience with the U.S. Air Force, government, industry, and academia. He comes to WPI from the office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Engineering at the Pentagon. Prior to that, he worked as a senior systems engineer at SAIC (Science Applications International Corp.).

“We are delighted to welcome Don Gelosh to WPI,” said Stephen P. Flavin, vice president and dean, academic and corporate development.  “His accomplished background and significant professional achievements make him ideally suited to contribute greatly to advancing WPI’s system engineering program.”

While serving as an Air Force officer, Gelosh worked on the Space Shuttle as a member of NASA’s Vehicle Integration and Test Team, where he was lead systems engineer for communications and payload integration, ensuring that the Shuttle was ready to launch. Later, at the Air Force Academy, he taught electrical and computer engineering, and subsequently served as deputy department head for Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology. Gelosh received his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1994, a master of science in computer system design from the University of Houston at Clear Lake in 1989, and a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Ohio State University in 1981. He also holds INCOSE CSEP – Acquisition certification and is DAWIA Level III certified in systems engineering.

Corporate and Professional Education, part of WPI’s Academic and Corporate Development division, works with corporate clients to design and deliver education that helps them achieve their specific business goals. All programs are built on the rich WPI tradition of blending theory and practice; this practical approach adds value by giving employees knowledge and skills that can be directly applied to their real-world job challenges.

Gelosh will provide additional leadership to WPI’s systems engineering programs, which provide students with the knowledge, skills, and decision-making abilities to design, manage, and lead complex systems engineering projects. Students are able to choose from among projects of interest to them, projects that support the specific needs of their jobs, or projects that help mitigate pressing company issues.