Alec Gallimore, professor of aerospace engineering, was elected dean of the University of Michigan College of Engineering. Gallimore will begin his five-year appointment on July 1, 2016, replacing David Munson *79, who has been dean for the past ten years.

Gallimore has served in other leadership positions at Michigan. He was associate dean in the Rackham School of Graduate Studies and the College of Engineering, associate dean for research and graduate education, and more recently was associate dean for academic affairs.

His research, focused on electric propulsion and plasma diagnostics, led to his establishment of the Plasmadynamics and Electronic Propulsion Laboratory at Michigan, where research is on devices that provide thrust to space vehicles. Gallimore also has directed the Michigan Space Grant Consortium for NASA since 2000. The U.S. Air Force has honored him with a Decoration for Meritorious Civilian Service. In addition, he has served on the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and NASA’s High-power Electrical Propulsion Technology Assessment Group.

Gallimore received his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1992 in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Also a graduate of Princeton, Munson earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science in 1979.