GAINESVILLE, FL:  Dr. Cole Smith, Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering, has been named Interim Chair of ISE until the search for a permanent chair is completed.  Dr. Smith joined UF in 2005, coming over from the University of Arizona.  His research focuses on the optimization of large-scale systems, with applications in security, transportation, telecommunication, and healthcare.  Smith has received various honors for his research and teaching, including the Dr. Hamed K. Eldin Outstanding Young IE in Education Award and the Operations Teaching division award, both bestowed by the Institute of Industrial Engineers.  He currently serves on the editorial board of several major journals in his field, is the Editor-in-Chief of the Tutorials in Operations Research book series, and is the Director of the Florida Institute for National Security at the University of Florida.

Dr. Smith is taking over for Dr. Joseph Hartman who has accepted a position as Dean of the Francis College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Dr. John Harris, Chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineer, will chair the search for the next permanent Department Chair of ISE.  It is expected that the new Chair will begin duties in the Spring of 2014.