Fouad was known for his technical excellence, which includes being elected to the United States National Academy of Engineering in 1996, as well as for having a positive impact on all those with whom he worked and interacted. Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Engineering at Iowa State University since his retirement in June 1996.
He also worked as a project manager with the Electric Power Research Institute’s Electrical Systems Division. In 1997-1998, he was asked by the Strategic Science and Technology Program of the same institute to conduct a study on the future power delivery systems for North American Interconnected Electrical Power Network.
He retired to Fort Collins, Colorado.
He earned his bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, master’s degree from the University of Iowa 1953, and PhD from Iowa State in 1956. After he finished his studies in 1956, he moved back to Cairo, Egypt, to become a lecturer for Ain-Shams University.
In 1960, Fouad returned to Iowa State as an associate professor in electrical engineering. Throughout his career, he received many honors, including being named Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in 1990. He was elected Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineering and earned the IEEE Halperin Transmission and Distribution award in 1994.
One of Fouad’s most enduring contributions to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECpE) at Iowa State was the establishment of the Power Affiliate Research Program with Paul Anderson in 1963. This program was established to further research and graduate education in electric power systems and to strengthen industry ties to the department. The Power Affiliate Research Program became the Electric Power Research Center in 1988 and continues to this day.
He also helped mentor 12 master’s students and 25 PhD students, and taught a variety of courses in power engineering and circuits. Additionally, Fouad founded a renowned, interdisciplinary graduate program on “Technology and Social Change in Foreign Cultures,” which he chaired from 1972 to 1978.
Fouad made his mark on multiple industries while participating in engineering projects with Cairo Gas and Electricity Administration, Rio De Janeiro Light and Traction Company, Jersey Production Research Company, and Atomics International. In 1986, he became the president and co-founder of Power Research Associates, Inc., located in Ames, Iowa.
He is renowned in the field for his books, which are widely used for classical and foundational references for dynamics of large-scale electric power transmission grids. His work has been cited more than 3,000 times across a variety of articles as well as translated into Russian and Chinese.
While at the University of Iowa, Aziz met his wife of 56 years, Maria Elisabeth (Leal) Fouad, who pre-deceased him in 2009. Aziz and Elisabeth are survived by their two children, Nadya Fouad and Sam H. Fouad.
Selected Sources
https://www.ece.iastate.edu/ecpe-directory/
http://www.ece.iastate.edu/profiles/aziz-fouad/
University of Iowa, College of Engineering, Hall of Fame: https://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/alumni/awards/honor-wall/dr-abdel-aziz-fouad
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