EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (August 23, 2019) – Alan Gillespie, P.E., a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, is the first African American engineer to be appointed as a national discipline lead within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“This appointment promotes and supports a future workforce that reflects the diverse clientele the federal government serves,” said Gillespie.
As the new national water management engineer with the Conservation Engineering Division, Gillespie fulfills a lifelong objective of providing leadership in policy development and technical guidance in engineering solutions.
“This opportunity expands the collective technical expertise of the USDA to include the legacy of academic and research excellence at N.C. A&T,” said Gillespie. “I am who I am, and where I am, because of the investment the faculty made in me.”
Gillespie graduated from the biological engineering department in 2007. He is a shining example of the positive impact a rigorous curriculum and engaged faculty members can have on the next generation of engineers.
“Our students are among the best and brightest in the nation and I continue to be proud of the preparation for their respective fields they receive at North Carolina A&T,” said Robin Coger, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering. “We are all so proud of alumnus Alan Gillespie’s latest accomplishment, and I am certain the USDA will benefit greatly from adding this Aggie Engineer to its team.”
Prior to this appointment, Gillespie served as the state conservation engineer for Rhode Island.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the nation’s largest historically black university, ranked number one among public HBCUs by U.S. News & World Report. It is a land-grant, doctoral high-research classified university by the Carnegie Foundation and constituent member of the University of North Carolina system. A&T is known for its leadership in producing graduates in engineering, agriculture and other STEM fields. The university was founded in 1891 and is located in Greensboro, North Carolina.