New Director for School of Modeling, Simulation and Training

The University of Central Florida (UCF) has named Grace Bochenek as the new director of the School of Modeling, Simulation and Training (SMST), who will officially begin in June.

Image credit: UCF

Bochenek has worked in the U.S. Department of Defense for over 25 years. She has served as the Director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy; U.S. Secretary of Energy; and the Director of U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center. She was also named the first Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.

Bochenek earned her Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering at Wayne State University in 1986, and a Master of Science in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Michigan–Dearborn in 1992. She completed her doctoral work in industrial and systems engineering at UCF and earned her Ph.D. in 1998.

“My vision for SMST is to pursue the most impactful research and pathways, ensuring an engaging academic experience for all students and building on UCF’s modeling, simulation and training reputation of excellence through partnerships, collaborations and expanding our opportunities,” said Bochenek.