• Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering
  • TEES Eminent Chair Professor
  • Harry E. Bovay, Jr. Chair
  • Engineering Research Chair Professor
  • Regents Professor
  • Member, National Academy of Engineering
B. Don Russell

Educational Background

  • Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Oklahoma – 1975
  • M.E., Electrical Engineering, Texas A&M University – 1971
  • B.S., Electrical Engineering, Texas A&M University – 1970

Research Interests

    • Electric Power Engineering
    • Power System Protection
    • Control and Automation of Power Systems
    • Power Systems Diagnostics and Waveform Analytics
    • Forensic Engineering
    • Engineering Ethics
    • Engineering Professionalism 

Awards & Honors

  • IEEE Fellow
  • National Society of Professional Engineers Fellow
  • National Academy of Forensic Engineers Fellow
  • National Academy of Inventors Fellow
  • Institution of Engineering and Technology Fellow
  • CIGRÉ Distinguished Member
  • Past President, IEEE Power and Energy Society
  • Vice President, USNC International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRÉ)
  • Meritorious Service Award, Power and Energy Society, 2006
  • IEEE Millennium Medal, 2000
  • Past Chair, NAE Electric Power and Energy Engineering Section 6
  • Distinguished Achievement Award in Research, Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University
  • IEEE Herman Halperin Electric Transmission and Distribution Technical Field Award
  • IEEE Electrotechnology Transfer Award
  • R&D 100 Award for the Development of the Digital Feeder Monitor
  • Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award, National Society of Professional Engineers
  • The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST), Charter Member
  • Holds 15 US patents; multiple foreign patents

Selected Publications

  • Carl L. Benner, B. Don Russell, “Automated Waveform Characterization for Providing Situational Awareness to Distribution Operators,” presented at and published in Proceedings of the 2018 Georgia Institute of Technology Fault and Disturbance Analysis Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, April 30 – May 1, 2018, 9 pp.
  • Benner, C. L., Russell, B. D., Wischkaemper, J. A., and Manivannan, K., “Improving Reliability and Safety of Electric Power Delivery Using DFA Technology,” Proceedings of the CIGRE USNC Grid of the Future Symposium, Reston, VA, October 28-31, 2018.
  • K. Muthu-Manivannan, Carl L. Benner, B. Don Russell, and Jeffrey A. Wischkaemper, “Automatic Identification, Clustering and Reporting of Recurrent Faults in Electric Distribution Feeders,” Proceedings of the International Conference on Intelligent Systems Applications to Power (ISAP), Sept. 17-21, 2017, San Antonio, Texas.
  • Benner, C. L., Wischkaemper, J. A., Manivannan, K., Russell, B. D., “On-line Monitoring of Substation Waveform Data for Improved Asset Management and Circuit Operations.” 2015 CIGRE Canada Conference, Winnipeg, Canada, September 2015.
  • Wischkaemper, J. A., Benner, C. L., Russell, B. D., and Manivannan, K., “Application of Waveform Analytics for Improved Situational Awareness of Electric Distribution Feeders,” Smart Grid, IEEE Transactions on, vol. 6, pp. 2041-2049, 2015.
  • Wischkaemper, J. A., Benner, C. L., Russell, B. D., and Manivannan, K., “Online Assessment of Capacitor Banks Using Circuit Health Monitoring Technology”, Proceedings of CIGRE USNC Grid of the Future Symposium, Houston, TX, October 19-21, 2014.
  • Wischkaemper, J. A., Benner, C. L., Russell, B. D., and Manivannan, K., “Wildfire Mitigation Through Advanced Monitoring: State of Texas Demonstration Project”, Proceedings of CIGRE USNC Grid of the Future Symposium, Houston, TX, October 19-21, 2014.
  • Wischkaemper, J. A., Benner, C. L., Russell, B. D., and Manivannan, K., “Automated Power System Waveform Analytics for Improved Visibility, Situational Awareness, and Operational Efficiency.” CIGRE USNC Grid of the Future Symposium, October 2013.
  • Benner, C.L., Russell, B.D. “Intelligent Systems for Improved Reliability and Failure Diagnosis in Distribution Systems,” IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2010, pp. 48-56.
  • Russell, B.D., “Educating the Workforce for the Modem Electric Power System; University-Industry Collaboration,” National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies, The Bridge, Spring 2010, pp. 35-41.
  • Babrauskas, V., Fleming, J.M., Russell, B.D. “RSET/ASET, a Flawed Concept for Fire Safety Assessment,” Journal of Fire Sciences, Fire Mater, 14 April 2010, pp. 341-355.
  • Russell, B.D., Benner, C.L., Cheney, R.M., Wallis, C.F., Anthony, T.L., Muston, W.E., “Reliability Improvement of Distribution Feeders through Real-Time, Intelligent Monitoring,” Proceedings of the IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, July 27, 2009.
  • Benner, C.L., Russell, B.D. “Automated Fault Analysis Using an Intelligent Monitoring System,” Proceedings of 62nd Annual Conference for Protective Relay Engineers, College Station, Texas, March 30 – April 2, 2009.
  • Detection of Downed Conductors on Utility Distribution Systems, IEEE PES Tutorial Course, Course Text No. 90EH0310-3-PWR, IEEE Press.