Visiting Professor Contributes Expertise to Decision Analysis and Systems Engineering

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Greg Parnell

Greg Parnell, visiting professor of industrial engineering, joined the department in August, and will be teaching and conducting research at the University of Arkansas for two years. Parnell is retired from his position as professor of systems engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He has also served as a distinguished visiting professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, associate professor of mathematical sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University, and head of the operational sciences department at the Air Force Institute of Technology.

“The department of industrial engineering is excited and honored to be working with Dr. Parnell,” said Kim Needy, department head. “His expertise complements and enhances our research program, and the experience he brings to the department in both teaching and research is a great benefit to our faculty and students.”

Parnell's research focuses on decision analysis, risk analysis, and resource allocation for defense, intelligence, homeland security, and environmental applications. He has received over $1.9 million in research funding over the course of his career. At the University of Arkansas, Parnell will be working with the Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics, using decision analysis techniques to determine ways to improve the healthcare supply chain. He will also be drawing on his fourteen years of experience with strategic planning and resources allocation to assist Dean John English and the College of Engineering in developing an updated strategic plan.

“One of my primary goals as dean is to revise the college’s strategic plan,” said English, “and I’m looking forward to benefitting from Dr. Parnell’s input and guidance. The expertise he can contribute, from both his research background and his career experience, will be invaluable to the college in this project.”

Parnell explained that he was drawn to the University of Arkansas because he is familiar with several of the faculty members and research projects here, and he knew he would enjoy working with them, as well as with the students. This semester, he is teaching Industrial Engineering Senior Design, Decision Models and Project Management. “I am really excited about the opportunity to teach here,” he said. “I’m impressed with the students, with their work and focus.”

Parnell holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Florida, a master’s degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, and a doctorate in engineering-economic systems from Stanford University. He is a Fellow of the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science, the Military Operations Research Society, the International Committee on Systems Engineering , the Society for Decision Professionals, and the Lean Systems Society. He is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, author of over 100 publications, and co-editor of the Wiley & Son’s Decision Making for Systems Engineering and Management, second edition, and co-author of the Wiley & Sons’ Handbook of Decision Analysis.