Tom Overbye to Move to Texas A&M
PowerWorld is pleased to announce that Tom Overbye, the original developer of the PowerWorld software and a co-founder of the company, has accepted a position at Texas A&M University as a TEES Distinguished Research Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. This appointment is anticipated to start on or before January of 2017.
Dr. Overbye has been a professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since 1991. He is currently the Fox Family Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He was part of the original onsite investigation team investigating the northeastern blackout the occurred on August 14, 2003. In 2013, he was elected to the prestigious U.S. National Academy of Engineering.
Since PowerWorld Corporation was founded in 1996, Professor Overbye has been intimately involved in software development activities and has helped develop many of PowerWorld’s advanced analytical tools, including the OPF, GIC, and Transient Stability add-ons. This move to Texas A&M will not affect his relationship with PowerWorld, as he plans to remain involved in many company activities.
“I’m quite thankful for the opportunity to have spent the last 25 years as a faculty member at University of Illinois, and for being able interact with colleagues throughout the power industry and, of course, with many students,” said Overbye. “Certainly a highlight of this time has been my involvement with PowerWorld. This is very synergistic with my role as a professor, and I’m very excited about the opportunity to join the faculty of Texas A&M, while continuing my ongoing involvement with PowerWorld.”
“PowerWorld sees this move as an exciting opportunity,” said company President Mark Laufenberg. “We are hopeful that Tom’s presence in Texas will help us to better support and work with our customers in the area, and allow us to learn more about how to respond to the challenges facing engineers and analysts in our industry.”