Seven Inducted Into Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Academy

Michigan Tech’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) held its 2018 ECE Academy induction ceremony Aug. 1 in the Memorial Union Ballroom.

Seven ECE alumni were welcomed into the Academy by Daniel R. Fuhrmann, the Dave House Professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Calling it a joy to welcome the newest inductees back to campus and recognize their accomplishments, Fuhrmann says the Academy induction is one of the high points of the academic calendar for his department.

“A department of 35 people can’t solve all the world’s problems, but our efforts are leveraged by the hundreds and thousands of successful graduates, each making their mark in the world in their own way. The ECE Academy represents the best and brightest of that group.”

The keynote speaker for the banquet was Timothy C. Havens, William and Gloria Jackson Associate Professor of Computer Systems and Director of the Center for Data Sciences. His address was titled “Computing at Michigan Tech.”

The 2018 inductees are:

Paul W. Juodawlkis—Class of 1986

Juodawlkis has focused his career on the development of advanced technology for national security as both a research engineer and technical manager at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He began his career on the team that developed the Airborne Seeker Test Bed platform, an airborne multi-sensor instrumentation system used to evaluate the survivability of U.S. air vehicles missile attack and the effectiveness of electronic countermeasures.

Juodawlkis is a Fellow of both the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and the Optical Society for his research contribution to optical sampling techniques.

He has been an active volunteer for several professional, academic and community organizations. In addition to his many accomplishments, he has coached youth soccer for seven years in Arlington, Massachusetts where he lives with his wife, Amy and son, James.

Michael A. Pulick Jr.—Class of 1986

Pulick is among five siblings who are Michigan Tech grads. The first 12 years of his career were spent at General Electric, working in appliances, medical systems, motors and industrial systems. In 1999, he joined W.W. Grainger, Inc., North America’s leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products. During his time at Grainger, he rose through the ranks as vice president of product development, senior vice president of customer service, eventually becoming president of Grainger U.S. and eventually president of Grainger International.

In 2015, Pulick joined the private equity firm of Warburg Pincus as an advisor for the industrial and business service sector and currently serves on the board of directors for the Wencor Group.

Throughout his career, Pulick has been passionate about exposing STEM students and professionals to business, financial and leadership experiences. He currently sits on the Dean’s Advisory Council for Tech’s School of Business and Economics. He and his wife, Elizabeth, a Michigan Tech grad, live in Naples, Florida.

Mark Rich—Class of 1980

Early in his career, the late Mark Rich was director of the Communication and Signals Technology Laboratory at SRI International. He was a co-founder and CTO of SkyPilot Networks, where he developed the mesh architecture for commercial broadband wireless infrastructures services.

From 2010 to 2014, Rich was a program manager at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office. From DARPA, he went to Google as a technical project lead with the Advanced Technology and Projects Group, leading research into advanced radio architectures. At both DARPA and Google, Rich supported research projects in Tech’s ECE Department. He held patents in digital audio broadcasting, polyvector modulation, mesh communications protocols and architectures and antenna systems.

Tragically, Rich was killed in a plane crash in Oregon last August. His wife Laura, accepted his posthumous induction in his honor.

Jon E. Jipping—Class of 1991

While at Detroit Edison, Jipping was the recipient of the company’s Sarah Sheridan Award for exceptional customer service in the deployment of new technology for an industrial customer. He is currently executive vice president and chief operating officer for ITC Holdings Corp. There, he is responsible for system operations, planning engineering, supply chain, field construction and maintenance and information technology. Jipping is one of the original employees to start ITC in 2003, beginning his tenure as director of engineering. He rose to vice president of engineering and subsequently senior vice president of engineering.

Jipping is currently serving as chair of the External Advisory Board of Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering and is a former member and chair of the External Advisory Committee for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Jeffery W. Feldt—Class of 1984

While in college, Feldt participated in the Cooperative Education Program with Bechtel Power Corporation, receiving 20 months of practical field experience working on the construction of two nuclear power plants. He has spent the last 35 years working in the electric utility industry and is currently general manager of Kaukauna Utilities in Wisconsin, a position he has held for the past 16 years.

Feldt has held numerous leadership positions on state and national electric trade associations and power supply agencies; he is currently chair of the WPPI Energy Board of Directors in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, a position he has held for the past seven years. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Public Power Association, and is past president of the Michigan Municipal Association and Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin.

Feldt and his wife of 30 years, Maureen, have two adult daughters. Like many Michigan Tech grads, he competed twice in the Lake Superior Pro Rally as a co-driver in the mid 2000s.

Arjang Roshan-Rouz—Class of 1992

Early in his career, Roshan-Rouz worked for both Bosch North America and Ford Motor Company and has 25 years of international executive experience in managing and growing businesses in industries related to automotive, specialty chemicals, material technology and electronics. In addition, he has managed businesses in the Asia-Pacific region and in Europe while living there.

Throughout his executive tenure, Roshan-Rouz established a track record of success in sustainably growing businesses in world markets, including Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, along with transforming underperforming global ventures.

In 2016, he was appointed the president and CEO of 5N Plus, Inc., in Montreal, a leading producer of engineered materials for various industries including pharmaceutical, healthcare, renewable energy, aerospace, security, sensing and imaging.

Dennis Wiitanen—Class of 1963

Wiitanen joined Michigan Bell shortly after graduating from Michigan Tech, but returned to his alma mater to pursue graduate study. While working as a graduate teaching assistant, he was inspired to pursue a career in education. After earning a PhD at the University of Missouri-Rolla, he turned down their teaching offer in order to return to Houghton to accept a position as an assistant professor of electrical engineering and the chance to lead the power program at Michigan Tech. During his 42-year career at Tech, Wiitanen initially developed a strong undergraduate program and then turned his attention to the graduate program in power.

He continued to develop corporate support for the program and over the years, the addition of several faculty further expanded the power program, which included the addition of the PhD program in power.

Over his career, Wiitanen has taught more than 1,000 students in power systems and now joins several of them as members of Tech’s ECE Academy. Wiitanen and his wife, Barbara, live in Houghton.

The purpose of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Academy is to honor outstanding ECE graduates. Election to the Academy is made by the ECE Executive Committee and recognizes excellence and leadership in the engineering profession and civic affairs. Portraits of the new Academy members will be added to the display in the lobby of the Electrical Energy Resources Center.