Don B. Russell is a distinguished Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University, holding the Harry E. Bovay, Jr. Chair and Regents Professor title. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of multiple professional organizations. His research focuses on power system automation, protection, and real-time diagnostics, with a strong emphasis on waveform analytics for fault detection and wildfire mitigation. Russell leads the internationally recognized Power System Automation Laboratory, supported by sponsors like the National Science Foundation and Texas A&M's Energy Resources Program. Educational Background: Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Oklahoma (1975) M.E., Electrical Engineering, Texas A&M University (1971) B.S., Electrical Engineering, Texas A&M University (1970) Research Interests: Power system protection and control Incipient failure detection via waveform analysis Forensic engineering and wildfire prevention Engineering ethics and professionalism Smart grid technologies and automation Awards and Honors: IEEE Millennium Medal (2000) R&D 100 Award (Digital Feeder Monitor) Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award (NSPE) 6 Distinguished Achievement Award (Texas A&M) Grants and Sponsors: The lab collaborates with TXU Energy, NSF, ONR, and industry partners to advance power system reliability and safety. His work has led to commercialized technologies like high-impedance fault detection relays. Labs and Teams: The Power System Automation Lab specializes in real-time data capture and fault analysis, with global recognition for reducing wildfire risks and improving distribution network resilience.









