Professor Gustavo de Veciana Named New WNCG Director

Last week, Theodore S. Rappaport, WNCG Director and Faculty member in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, introduced Gustavo de Veciana, the current Associate Director, as the new acting director. Professor Jeff Andrews will assume the role of Associate director.

In accepting his new appointment Dr. de Veciana said, "I am delighted at having the opportunity to lead WNCG and work on its continued growth and success. Ted Rappaport has done a magnificent job setting a vision and leading the group towards making this a reality. Students, faculty and industry have all contributed and benefited from their participation in this effort. We will continue developing our community, research and industrial relationships, so that this group has a profound and lasting impact on education and technology."

"Gustavo de Veciana has been instrumental in WNCG's founding, and has helped UT's wireless program become one of the largest and most productive academic research programs in the world," said WNCG founder and Nowlin Chair Ted Rappaport. "I am pleased to turn over the reins to him and Associate Director Jeff Andrews and look forward to continued growth and recognition of WNCG through their leadership."

Dr. de Veciana joined the University of Texas at Austin 12 years ago and is currently a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He helped recruit Dr. Rappaport to U.T. Austin as well as all of the new ECE faculty which are part of the WNCG. Dr. de Veciana has served as Associate Director of the WNCG since its inception. Dr. de Veciana received BSEE, MSEE, and Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley. He has been working on the design, analysis and control of telecommunication networks since his Ph.D. work which he completed in 1993. His teaching and research have been recognized with several awards.

Professor Rappaport plans to take a leave of absence from UT in 2006 to work at Wireless Valley, a company he founded while on the faculty of Virginia Tech.