Dr. Alec D. Gallimore is the Provost and Chief Academic Officer of Duke University. Prior to his appointment at Duke, Dr. Gallimore held multiple leadership roles over his more than 30-year career at the University of Michigan, including the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering from 2016 to 2023, associate dean for academic affairs, associate dean for research and graduate education, and associate dean at the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. He was a faculty member at the University of Michigan from 1992 to 2023.
Dr. Gallimore is a rocket scientist, and in 2019 was elected to the National Academy of Engineering--among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. He is a leader in the field of advanced electric propulsion who has excelled in research, teaching and service. His experience and creativity have led to program innovations to assist the growth of faculty and students. He is passionate about creating an inclusive environment and ensuring all individuals are treated with equity.
He has served on a number of advisory boards for NASA and the Department of Defense, including the United States Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (AFSAB). He was awarded the Decoration for Meritorious Civilian Service in 2005 for his AFSAB work. In 2010, he was elected a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). He has graduated 44 Ph.D. students and 14 master’s students and has written more than 360 publications on electric propulsion and plasma physics.
He has served on the Dow Science & Technology Advisory Council, the Institute for Defense Analyses Board of Trustees, and the Board of Directors for PagerDuty, Inc. (NYSE: PD). He currently serves on the Board of Governors for RTI International and the Board of Directors for ANSYS, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANSS). Alec joined the Bechtel Group, Inc. Board of Directors in 2021.