John G. Kassakian

John G. Kassakian

Professor of Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS)

77 Massachusetts Avenue
Room 10-173
Cambridge, MA 02139

jgk@mit.edu
617.253.3448

Dr. John G. Kassakian is Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His field of expertise is power electronics and automotive electrical systems. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from MIT, and prior to joining the MIT faculty, he served a two year tour of duty in the US Navy. Dr. Kassakian was the Founding President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Power Electronics Society, served as the US representative to the European Power Electronics Association, and is the recipient of the IEEE Centennial Medal, the IEEE William E. Newell Award, the IEEE Power Electronics Society’s Distinguished Service Award, the IEEE Millennium Medal, the European Power Electronics Association Achievement Award, and the Kabakjian Science Award. In 1989 he was elected a Fellow of the IEEE and in 1993 he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. In 1993 he was also awarded an IEEE Distinguished Lectureship through which he has lectured internationally. He has published extensively  in the areas of power electronics, power systems, education and automotive electrical systems, co-chaired the MIT study “The Future of the Electric Grid” and is a co-author of the textbook Principles of Power Electronics.

Prof. Kassakian is a former member of the Board of Directors of ISO New England (the independent system operator of the New England electric utility system), and currently serves on the board of Marvell Semiconductor, and the Corporate Advisory Boards of Tyco Electronics and Lutron Electronics. He serves as a consultant to government and industry, Dr. Kassakian’s interests include sailing, fishing, and gardening. He has two children and resides with his wife in Newton, Massachusetts.

Keywords

power electronics, power systems, electronics, semiconductor devices, automotive electronics, energy storage, ultra capacitors, double-layer electrochemical capacitors, batteries, LED lighting, electric vehicles