Alec Gallimore facts for kids

Alec Damian Gallimore is an American expert in aerospace engineering. He is currently the provost at Duke University, a role he started in July 2023. Before this, he worked at the University of Michigan. There, he was the 15th dean of engineering from 2016 to 2023. He also taught as a professor at the university since 1992.

Early Life and Education

Alec Gallimore was born in Washington, D.C.. His parents, Kathleen and Lascelles Gallimore, were immigrants from Jamaica. He grew up in Harrington Park, New Jersey, in the United States.

College Studies

Gallimore earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering, in 1986. He received this degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He then continued his studies at Princeton University.

In 1988, he earned a Master of Arts degree in aerospace engineering. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the same field in 1992. His PhD research focused on aerospace materials and how fluids move. His special paper was called Anode power deposition in coaxial MPD thrusters.

Career Highlights

After finishing his first degree, Alec Gallimore was chosen for a special summer program. He was one of forty engineering and science students to work at the NASA Lewis Research Center. After getting his PhD, he wanted to work for NASA. However, he was told he needed more experience first.

Starting at the University of Michigan

Because of this, Gallimore decided to join the faculty at the University of Michigan College of Engineering. He wanted to improve his public speaking skills. When he started teaching, he created the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory. He originally planned to go back to NASA after five years. However, he enjoyed teaching and research so much that he decided to stay in academia.

From 2005 to 2011, Gallimore served as an associate dean. This role was at the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Later, from 2011 to 2013, he was the associate dean for research and graduate education.

Research and Leadership

As the first director of the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory (PEPL), Gallimore focused on several areas. His research included electric propulsion and how to study plasma. He also looked into how plasma interacts with space and how electrodes work.

The PEPL laboratory worked to improve a large vacuum chamber called the Large Vacuum Test Facility (LVTF). This chamber is 20 by 30 feet in size. In 2015, the lab designed a special engine called the X3 Nested-Channel Hall Thruster. This engine was made for NASA's Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) program.

Beyond his work at PEPL, Gallimore also directed other important programs. He led the NASA Michigan Space Grant Consortium. He also directed the Michigan/Air Force Center of Excellence in Electric Propulsion.

Becoming Dean and Provost

In February 2016, Alec Gallimore was named the next Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering. He started this role on July 1, 2016, and served until June 30, 2021. While he was dean, he was chosen to join the National Academy of Engineering. This honor was for his work in advanced spacecraft electric propulsion, especially with Hall thruster technology.

In 2020, Gallimore received the Wyld Propulsion Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He earned this award for his amazing achievements and leadership. His work greatly helped improve spacecraft electric propulsion systems and train new engineers.

On March 24, 2023, it was announced that Gallimore would become the Provost of Duke University. He officially started this new role in July 2023. As provost, Gallimore is also the chair of the Duke Kunshan University board of trustees.