LuAnn Piccard

LuAnn Piccard is the Chair of the Project Management Department and an Associate Professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), School of Engineering. She holds leadership roles including Interim Director and Department Head of the Project Management program. Her career spans academic and corporate sectors, with over 40 years of experience in engineering, project management, and high-tech industry leadership.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University (1982)
• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University (1985)

Research & Expertise: Dr. Piccard focuses on practical project management methodologies, election security systems, renewable energy infrastructure, and technology strategy. She has pioneered coursework in project controls, scope management, and leadership for technical teams. Her work integrates academic rigor with real-world applications, particularly in Alaska’s unique environmental and operational contexts.

Key Contributions: As Principal Investigator for the State of Alaska Election Security Project (2007–2008), she developed critical infrastructure and process frameworks. Her publications emphasize system-oriented approaches to energy systems (e.g., LED streetlights, hybrid solar-wind power) and project lifecycle optimization.

Awards:

• National ASME award for biomedical engineering innovation (1982)

Advising & Grants: Leads the MS Project Management program’s expansion, securing grants for infrastructure development. Her corporate experience includes roles as SVP at Hewlett Packard and Advanced Energy Industries, managing global operations and $500M+ revenue portfolios.

Labs & Teams: Central to UAA’s Project Management initiatives, she collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on energy systems and election security projects. Her academic work bridges industry needs and academic training.