Alan J. Michaels

Alan J. Michaels is a Professor and Director of the NSI Spectrum Dominance Division at Virginia Tech, leading research in digital communications, electronic warfare, and quantum algorithms. He holds affiliations with the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Mathematics. Previously, he served at Harris Corporation in engineering leadership roles.

Education includes multiple degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology (B.S., M.S., Ph.D. in ECE; B.S., M.S. in Applied Mathematics; M.S. in Operations Research) and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.

Research focuses on RF spectrum dominance, applied mathematics, and cybersecurity. Notable contributions include 44 U.S. patents, over 80 peer-reviewed publications, and leadership in $171M+ research projects. He pioneered initiatives like the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) model for undergrad research and the Southwest VA node of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI).

Awarded Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors for his inventive impact. His work bridges academia and industry, emphasizing practical applications in restricted research domains.