Paul Wach

Paul Wach serves as a Research Assistant Professor within the Intelligent Systems Division of the Virginia Tech National Security Institute. He holds a PhD in Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Carolina, and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Tech. His career spans leadership roles at the Department of Energy managing $1-12B engineering projects, experience at two National Laboratories, and medical industry work.

Dr. Wach's research centers on the theoretical foundations of systems engineering intersecting with digital transformation and artificial intelligence. As a subject matter expert for The Aerospace Corporation, he focuses on digital transformation applications. His scholarly contributions include founding Virginia Tech's student chapter of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) and pioneering work in model-based systems engineering.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2022-2025) reveals three dominant research thrusts: (1) Application of large language models for generating systems engineering artifacts, (2) Mathematical formalization of model-based systems engineering verification, and (3) Digital engineering testbed development for military test and evaluation. His work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical national security applications.

Dr. Wach actively contributes to digital engineering education through curriculum development initiatives and academic case studies. His industry partnerships with The Aerospace Corporation and prior Department of Energy experience demonstrate strong government-industry collaboration in advancing digital transformation.

He operates within Virginia Tech's National Security Institute ecosystem, specifically through the Intelligent Systems Division, where his work supports national security technology development. Current projects include Operation Safe Passage digital testbeds and frameworks for verifying AI-generated engineering artifacts.