Michael F Ahern

Michael F Ahern is an Adjunct Professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute's The Business School, specializing in data analysis, cybersecurity, and power systems education. He has held leadership roles in utility operations and served as Principal Investigator for federal projects addressing power grid vulnerabilities and cyber-attacks. Ahern retired from Northeast Utilities as Vice President, Utility Services after 31 years, focusing on transmission planning, safety, and cybersecurity.

Educations:

• Bachelor of Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Tau Beta Pi member)
• Master of Science and Master of Business Administration from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Research Interests: Ahern bridges academia and industry through work on energy systems reliability, cybersecurity strategies for infrastructure, and green energy integration. His teaching emphasizes practical applications of data analysis in decision-making and risk management. Recent efforts include IEEE webinars on energy efficiency and grid modernization.

Research Contributions: His work spans cybersecurity in power grids, online education innovations, and critical infrastructure protection. Notable projects include DARPA's RADICS initiative and federal grid vulnerability assessments.

Awards:

• Member of Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society

Grants & Leadership: Led two federally funded research teams as WPI PI. Advised interdisciplinary teams in power systems engineering and cybersecurity. Collaborated with MIT, RPI, and industry leaders on energy policy initiatives.

Labs/Teams: Former Director of Power Systems at WPI (2012-2023), fostering cross-disciplinary energy research and professional development programs.