MEES Faculty Biographies

Kenneth Butts, MS, is executive engineer, Powertrain and Chassis Division, Toyota Technical Center. In this position he is investigating advanced methods to improve engine calibration productivity. Previous experience includes positions at Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation and work on product life cycle management, quality processes for managing embedded control software development, application of computer-aided control system design tools, advanced powertrain control concepts, and project management. Widely published and a frequent presenter at conferences, Dr. Butts has a BE degree in electrical engineering from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University), an MS degree in electrical engineering and a PhD in electrical engineering systems from the University of Michigan.
Bruce Dennert photo Bruce Dennert, MS, is the president and principal engineer of CamCom, Inc., an engineering consulting company specializing in cam profile design, valve train analysis, engineering educational training programs, and custom engineering software. Previous experience includes a 34-year career at Harley-Davidson, where he held many powertrain engineering positions, including Principal Engineer – Powertrain Concepts. He also worked at Waukesha Engine in an analytical engineering function. He holds bachelor's degrees in math and physics from Carroll College, a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Master of Engineering in Professional Practice (MEPP) degree  from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
  David Foster, PhD, is a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a leading faculty member of the UW Engine Research Center. He has more than 25 years of experience in diesel and spark-ignition combustion research and continues to be a leading consultant throughout the internal combustion engine industry. Through these efforts he has gained significant practical engine development experience to complement his expertise in the fundamental sciences. David holds a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  Jaal Ghandhi, PhD, is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is an active participant in the UW Engine Research Center and currently heads the Wisconsin Small Engine Consortium effort there. He is a leading researcher in the studies of emission formation in direct-injection engines and in the application of optical diagnostics. He is a recipient of the CAREER award, a prestigious grant from the National Science Foundation made to promising young faculty members. Jaal holds a doctoral degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Princeton University.
Don Hanna photo Don Hanna, PhD, is professor of educational communications, University of Wisconsin- Extension. Don has written extensively in the fields of distance learning, leadership, technology, and organizational change in higher education, and he regularly consults on these topics with educational organizations nationally and internationally. He is an experienced online educator, and frequently is a keynote speaker at online learning conferences. He has been both an administrator and teacher at four land-grant universities and has helped to lead major institution-wide change efforts related to technology and distance learning. He received his PhD from Michigan State University in 1978 and his AB degree from the University of Kansas in 1969.
Kevin Hoag photo Kevin Hoag, MS, is a program director for the Department of Engineering Professional Development at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He has nearly 30 years of experience in diesel and spark-ignition engine development, the majority of which was with Cummins Engine Company, where he held a variety of leadership roles in engine performance and mechanical development. He also has more than 10 years of experience in course development and teaching in continuing engineering education. Kevin holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

John Lahti is a senior project engineer at General Motors Powertrain in Milford, Michigan. He has worked at GM for 14 years in the areas of engine development and powertrain controls. His present assignment is in the Hybrid Powertrain Controls group. Prior to working at GM he worked for two years with automotive heating and cooling systems at Denso Corporation. He received his PhD degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2004, his MSE degree from the University of Michigan–Dearborn in 1992, and his BSME from Michigan Technological University in 1989. Dr. Lahti is a registered professional engineer, a member of SAE, ASME, and IEEE.
John Moskwa photo John Moskwa is the founding director of the Powertrain Control Research Laboratory (PCRL) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and has more than 30 years of experience in the powertrain industry. In addition to 17 years on the faculty at Wisconsin, he has worked for Cummins Engine Company, General Motors Research Labs, the US Army Tank-Automotive Command (Propulsion Div. and System Simulation and Tech. Div.), Ford Motor Company's R&E Centre in England, as well as MIT's Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory and as a diesel mechanic for the City of Detroit DoT. His academic background includes a PhD from MIT, MSE and BSE degrees from the University of Michigan, an AS degree from Henry Ford Community College, engine technical training at GM Tech Center and Cummins Tech Center, and he served as a Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University in England. A Fellow of SAE, he is also a member of IEEE (Control Systems Society), ASME (Dynamics Systems and Control Div.) and is a registered Professional Engineer. Dr. Moskwa consults widely for domestic and international manufacturers in the powertrain industry, and has served as testifying expert and consultant on numerous federal and state litigations, as well as interference hearings and patent reexaminations within the US Patent and Trademark Office. He is president/sole proprietor of Powertrain Consultation & Research, LLC, an engineering consulting company based in Madison, Wisconsin.
Brian Price photo Brian Price, MS, is a product group director at Ricardo, based in the UK. He has more than 25 years of experience in leading the design and development of powertrain programs for automotive, aerospace, marine and industrial manufacturers around the world. Prior to joining Ricardo, Brian has held a variety of engineering leadership positions internationally at Jaguar, Triumph, Lotus Cars, Cosworth, Mercury Marine and Harley-Davidson. Brian earned a master of science degree in engineering from Loughborough University of Technology and also completed the Master of Engineering in Professional Practice degree at UW–Madison.
Roy Primus photo Roy Primus, MS,

has worked as a reciprocating engine technologist and researcher in the areas of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, combustion, emissions and thermodynamics for over 30 years. He was with Cummins for the first 25 years of his career. As executive director-Cummins Technical Systems he was responsible for the worldwide coordination of technical tools, methods and training. In 2002, he left Cummins to become chief technologist–advanced cycles at the General Electric Global Research Center. Active in the Society of Automotive Engineers, Roy was awarded Fellow status in 2001. He has been a member of the governing board of the Central States Section of the Combustion Institute and a licensed professional engineer in Indiana. He has a BS degree in mathematics and an MS degree in mechanical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Rolf Reitz photo Rolf Reitz, PhD, is a Wisconsin Distinguished Professor. Before joining the University of Wisconsin Engine Research Center in 1989, he spent six years at the General Motors Research Laboratories, three years as a research staff member at Princeton University, and two years as a research scientist at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University. Professor Reitz's research interests include internal combustion engines and sprays. He is currently developing advanced computer models for optimizing fuel-injected engines. He is a consultant to numerous industries and has won major awards for his research, including the SAE Harry L. Horning award (twice). He has authored and co-authored more than 200 technical papers on aspects of engine research. He received his PhD degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Princeton University in 1978.
Jon Roth bio Jon Roth, MS, is an instructional technologist and media specialist in the Department of Engineering Professional Development and is responsible for providing technical support for the Master of Engineering programs. Jon received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a master's degree in Math and Computer Science from Marquette University. He is currently working on a PhD in Math Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His dissertation focus is on technology-based mathematics in K-12 classrooms. His studies include issues surrounding the techniques and strategies of teachers in helping students strengthen their understanding and intuition of math through the use of classroom and online technologies.
Christopher Rutland photo Christopher Rutland, PhD, has been a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin–Madison since 1989 and is currently the graduate associate chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He received his PhD degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University in 1989. Professor Rutland's research interests are in simulation of internal combustion engines and turbulent reacting flows. His work spans three major areas: model development for engineering simulations, using simulations to study IC engine issues such as mixture preparation and emissions reduction, and fundamental studies of turbulent reacting flows using direct numerical simulations (DNS). He consults for a variety of industries, including engine and automotive companies. He has served on numerous review panels for the US Department of Energy, the US Air Force, and the National Science Foundation.
Tom Smith bio Thomas W. Smith, MS, is director of telecommunications programming in the Department of Engineering Professional Development, University of Wisconsin-Madison. He currently directs a series of short courses in telecommunications and distance education. He has been instrumental in the development of the university's audiographic teleconferencing and satellite communications capabilities. For this work he received the UW-Extension Award for Excellence and national awards from Telecom and ASEE. He has written more than 40 papers and articles on telecommunications and distance education and is a frequent speaker on this topic in the United States and Europe. He received his BS degree from Dartmouth College and MS degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Mark Tussing bio Mark Tussing, MS, has worked in the engine industry for the past 20 years. His current position is manager of the Engine Design Section at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). His role at SwRI has been to grow and develop the engine design/development area by building a strong team with industry background. Prior to joining SwRI in February 2001, he worked for Cummins Engine Co. as manager of the Applied Mechanics CAE Department. During his 14-year career at Cummins he also held positions as a simulation specialist (FEA and Dynamic Simulation) and a mechanical test development engineer. He was also employed by the Marathon LeTourneau Company as a junior engineer in the powertrain design area from 1985 to 1987. Prior to completing his university education he worked for two years as a certified marine engine mechanic. Mark has a BS degree in mechanical engineering from LeTourneau University and an MS degree in engineering from Purdue University.
Sandra Ashford photo MEES Program Director
Sandra Ashford, PhD, directs the MEES program and is a program director in the Department of Engineering Professional Development, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Ashford spent a number of years in the aerospace industry designing jet aircraft engines. She worked briefly as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Detroit Mercy before returning to industry at Ford Motor Company to train power-train designers and engineers in CAD and CAE. She moved quickly to become a training manager for Ford North America and produced Web-based quality training on topics such as the design of experiments. She also worked in the office of the Technical Fellow exploring new technologies to automate the product development process and shorten product development time. Dr. Ashford received a master's degree from Purdue University in mechanical engineering with emphasis on combustion and a PhD from the University of Oklahoma in aerospace engineering, studying combustion and hypersonic propulsion. In addition she has an MBA degree from the University of Dallas and is a six-sigma black belt.
Wayne Pferdehirt photo Director of Student Services
Gary Henderson, MA, is the director of student services for the MEES program. One of his roles is to address student concerns and issues and seek resolution when these conflict with academic performance. He chairs the MEES Admissions Committee and is the point-of-contact person for applicants and students. Gary has been advising students in both on-campus and distance learning programs since 2001. He holds a BA in social psychology, an MA in counseling, social and organizational psychology, and has completed doctoral studies in organizational behavior and strategy.
Wayne Pferdehirt photo Distance Degrees Director
Wayne P. Pferdehirt, MS, PE, AICP, is the director of distance degree programs for the College of Engineering. Prior to joining UW-Madison, Wayne directed the Midwest solid waste consulting services of an international environmental consulting firm and led energy conservation research projects for Argonne National Laboratory. He has a BS in engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University and an MS in civil engineering with an emphasis in regional planning from Northwestern University. Wayne is a licensed professional engineer and a nationally certified professional planner.
Phil O'Leary bio EPD Department Chair
Philip R. O'Leary, PhD, PE, is chair of the Department of Engineering Professional Development, University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition he conducts professional development courses in the areas of solid waste management, hazardous waste control, groundwater quality protection and related environmental topics. Prior to joining the university, he worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources where he developed guidelines and issued permits for industrial pollution control systems, land application of effluent systems, and the application of sludge on agricultural land. Dr. O'Leary earned BS and MS degrees in agricultural engineering and a PhD in land resources with a specialization in energy and environmental issues, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.