NSF appoints Don Millard as deputy assistant director for Engineering

The U.S. National Science Foundation has selected Don Millard as deputy assistant director for Engineering. Millard, who begins his appointment on August 14, 2022, currently serves in the NSF Engineering Directorate (ENG) as the deputy division director for the Division of Engineering Education and Centers.

"In addition to his engineering expertise, Dr. Millard brings an outstanding track record in collaboration and partnerships, a deep commitment to education and mentoring, and a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion," said ENG Assistant Director Susan Margulies. "I am excited for him to take this role at a time when we are investing in greater access to engineering careers and in fundamental research to address many national challenges."

Millard came to NSF in 2010 as a program director in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, where he was involved in the Advanced Technology Education program and programs for undergraduate STEM education. In 2015, he joined ENG, where he has had a leadership role in broadening participation in engineering and oversaw the development of a new generation of Engineering Research Centers. He was instrumental in the formation of the NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) and Convergence Accelerator programs.

Prior to joining NSF, Millard spent 27 years at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as a faculty member in the electrical, computer and systems engineering department. His research interests include engineering education, electronics design and manufacturing, electronic media development, electrical testing methodologies, semiconductor fabrication and non-destructive inspection and evaluation. He is the founder of the Mobile Studio project, an educational hardware platform. He earned his doctorate in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his bachelor's in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

The ENG Directorate invests in engineering research and education to create critical building blocks for the nation's future health, prosperity and security. Engineering awards spur breakthroughs in advanced manufacturing, sustainable energy, resilient infrastructure and more.