Alec Gallimore
{{Short description|American aerospace engineer}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Alec D. Gallimore
| image =
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| office = Provost of Duke University
| termstart = July 1, 2023
| education = Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (BS)
Princeton University (MA, PhD)
| nationality = American
| office2 = 15th Dean of the College of Engineering of the University of Michigan
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| predecessor = Jennifer Francis
| module = {{Infobox scientist
| child=yes
| fields = Aerospace materials
Fluid dynamics
| thesis_title = Anode power deposition in coaxial MPD thrusters
| thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/304002381/
| thesis_year = 1992
| doctoral_advisor = Robert G. Jahn
}}
| termend2 = 2023
| termstart2 = 2016
}}
Alec Damian Gallimore is an American aerospace engineer who has been serving as provost of Duke University since July 2023. Previously at the University of Michigan, he served as the 15th dean of engineering from 2016 to 2023 and as a faculty member since 1992.
Early life and education
Gallimore was born in Washington, D.C., to Jamaican immigrant parents{{cite web |title=Dr. Alec Gallimore Talks about Space Electric Propulsion and How the University Michigan is Helping to Shape the Future of Space Travel |url=https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2020/04/16/dr-alec-gallimore-talks-about-space-electric-propulsion-and-how-the-university-michigan-is-helping-to-shape-the-future-of-space-travel/ |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=October 12, 2021 |date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020002150/https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2020/04/16/dr-alec-gallimore-talks-about-space-electric-propulsion-and-how-the-university-michigan-is-helping-to-shape-the-future-of-space-travel/ |url-status=live }} Kathleen and Lascelles Gallimore. He was raised in Harrington Park, New Jersey, United States.{{cite news |title=Our Neighbors |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85809645/our-neighbors/ |access-date=October 12, 2021 |publisher=The Record |date=September 26, 1986 |archive-date=October 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029174224/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85809645/our-neighbors/ |url-status=live }}
Gallimore received a Bachelor of Science with a major in aeronautical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1986. He received a Master of Arts in 1988 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 1992, both in aerospace engineering and from Princeton University.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-26 |title=Alec D. Gallimore, Ph.D. |url=https://aero.engin.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Gallimore-A.-D.-CV-27-June-2022-1.pdf |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=University of Michigan Department of Aerospace Engineering |archive-date=2022-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006204944/https://aero.engin.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Gallimore-A.-D.-CV-27-June-2022-1.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Alec Gallimore |url=https://www.ascend.events/experience/speaker/alec-gallimore/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030043023/https://www.ascend.events/experience/speaker/alec-gallimore/ |archive-date=2021-10-30 |access-date=October 12, 2021 |publisher=Ascend}} His doctoral dissertation was on aerospace materials and fluid dynamics, titled Anode power deposition in coaxial MPD thrusters (1992).{{Cite web |title=Anode power deposition in coaxial MPD thrusters - ProQuest |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/304002381/ |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=www.proquest.com |language=en}}
Career
Following his undergraduate degree, Gallimore was one of forty engineering and science college students selected to participate in a summer program at the NASA Lewis Research Center. Following his PhD, Gallimore intended on pursuing a career with NASA but was informed he needed more experience. As a result, he chose to join the faculty at the University of Michigan College of Engineering to improve his public speaking.{{cite news |last1=Jesse |first1=David |title=From dreams of space to college dean at Michigan |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/05/01/dreams-space-college-dean-michigan/83698700/ |access-date=September 22, 2021 |publisher=Detroit Free Press |date=May 1, 2016 |archive-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028172933/https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/05/01/dreams-space-college-dean-michigan/83698700/ |url-status=live }} Upon joining the faculty, Gallimore founded the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory.{{cite news |last1=Futter |first1=Isobel |title=Alec Gallimore approved as College of Engineering dean |url=https://www.michigandaily.com/news/future-engineering-dean-alec-gallimore-prepares-his-role/ |access-date=October 12, 2021 |publisher=Michigan Daily |date=March 17, 2016 |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021134629/https://www.michigandaily.com/news/future-engineering-dean-alec-gallimore-prepares-his-role/ |url-status=live }} He originally intended to return to NASA after five years of teaching but chose to pursue a career in academia instead.{{cite web |title=A rocket thruster that brings us closer to Mars |url=https://hbsciu.com/2015/06/09/a-rocket-thruster-that-brings-us-closer-to-mars/ |publisher=HBSciU |access-date=October 12, 2021 |date=June 9, 2015 |archive-date=October 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017003411/https://hbsciu.com/2015/06/09/a-rocket-thruster-that-brings-us-closer-to-mars/ |url-status=live }} From 2005 to 2011, Gallimore served as an associate dean at the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies and from 2011 to 2013 he was the associate dean for research and graduate education.{{cite web |title=Dean Alec D. Gallimore |url=https://www.engin.umich.edu/culture/leadership/dean-alec-d-gallimore/ |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=October 12, 2021 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020142207/https://www.engin.umich.edu/culture/leadership/dean-alec-d-gallimore/ |url-status=live }}
As founding director of the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory (PEPL), Gallimore focused his research on electric propulsion, plasma diagnostics, space plasma simulation, electrode physics, nano-particle energetics, and hypersonic aerodynamics’ interaction with plasma.{{cite web |title=Dean of Engineering Alec Gallimore elected to the National Academy of Engineering |url=https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2019/02/17/dean-of-engineering-alec-gallimore-elected-to-the-national-academy-of-engineering/ |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=October 12, 2021 |date=February 17, 2019 |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019130248/https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2019/02/17/dean-of-engineering-alec-gallimore-elected-to-the-national-academy-of-engineering/ |url-status=live }} The PEPL was originally interested in improving and enhancing the Large Vacuum Test Facility (LVTF), a 20 by 30-foot vacuum chamber, and a small standalone vacuum antechamber. In 2015, the laboratory designed an X3 Nested-Channel Hall Thruster to be used in NASA's Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP).{{cite web |last1=McAlpine |first1=Kate |title=Michigan design selected for NASA's NextSTEP toward a crewed Mars mission |url=https://news.engin.umich.edu/2016/02/michigan-design-selected-for-nasas-nextstep-toward-a-crewed-mars-mission/ |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=October 12, 2021 |date=February 15, 2016 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020112839/https://news.engin.umich.edu/2016/02/michigan-design-selected-for-nasas-nextstep-toward-a-crewed-mars-mission/ |url-status=live }}
Beyond his efforts in the PEPL, Gallimore served as director for the NASA Michigan Space Grant Consortium and for the Michigan/Air Force Center of Excellence in Electric Propulsion. In February 2016, Gallimore was named the next Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering from July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2021.{{cite news |last1=Moehlman |first1=Lara |title=Regents appoint new Engineering dean to succeed Munson |url=https://www.michigandaily.com/news/regents-appoint-new-engineering-dean-succeed-munson/ |access-date=September 22, 2021 |publisher=Michigan Daily |date=February 18, 2016 |archive-date=October 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017123553/https://www.michigandaily.com/news/regents-appoint-new-engineering-dean-succeed-munson/ |url-status=live }} While serving in this role, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for "advanced spacecraft electric propulsion, especially Hall thruster technology."{{cite web |title=Dr. Alec Damian Gallimore |url=https://www.nae.edu/204072/Dr-Alec-D-Gallimore |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016110502/https://www.nae.edu/204072/Dr-Alec-D-Gallimore |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |access-date=October 12, 2021 |publisher=National Academy of Engineering}} In 2020, Gallimore was presented with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Wyld Propulsion Award for his "groundbreaking achievements and leadership in technology and workforce development that have contributed significantly to increased utilization of spacecraft electric propulsion systems."{{cite web |title=Dean of Engineering Alec Gallimore receives AIAA Wyld Propulsion Award |url=https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2020/05/02/dean-of-engineering-alec-gallimore-receives-aiaa-wyld-propulsion-award/ |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=October 12, 2021 |date=May 2, 2020 |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019125303/https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2020/05/02/dean-of-engineering-alec-gallimore-receives-aiaa-wyld-propulsion-award/ |url-status=live }}
On March 24, 2023, it was announced Gallimore would become Provost of Duke University.{{cite web | url=https://today.duke.edu/2023/03/alec-gallimore-named-dukes-next-provost-chief-academic-officer | title=Alec Gallimore Named Duke's Next Provost, Chief Academic Officer }} In his capacity of provost, Gallimore is ex officio chair of the Duke Kunshan University board of trustees.{{Cite web |title=Duke Kunshan Celebrates 10th Year, Looks Ahead Toward New Challenges |url=https://today.duke.edu/2023/08/duke-kunshan-celebrates-10th-year-looks-ahead-toward-new-challenges |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Duke Today |language=en}}
References
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Category:African-American engineers
Category:American aerospace engineers
Category:Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute alumni
Category:Princeton University alumni
Category:University of Michigan faculty
Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering