Michael Milligan, PhD, P.E., CAE, currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of ABET, an ISO 9001 certified, global, nonprofit quality assurance organization of 34 technical and professional societies. Through the accreditation of academic programs, recognition of professional credentials and assessment of student learning, ABET supports excellence in higher education worldwide. Each year, over 200,000 students enter the global workforce from over 4,800 ABET accredited programs in 42 countries.
In his 15+ years leading ABET, the organization has grown by over 78% in total programs, significantly impacting the quality of higher education around the world and helping ensure future leaders are equipped to build a safer, more efficient and more sustainable world.
Earlier in his career, he led a team at the Aerospace Corporation supporting the development of the next generation environmental satellites for NOAA at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Milligan also served over 24 years as a career U.S. Air Force officer working in operations, space communications, engineering education, international R&D and technology acquisition.
Milligan holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering and an MBA in Business Administration. He is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and a member of both the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and IEEE Eta Kappa Nu Electrical Engineering Honor Society. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Colorado and Maryland and a Certified Association Executive.
Outside of his professional roles, Milligan is a certified Master Naturalist for the state of Maryland and actively engages in environmental and community-focused projects supporting native habitats and outdoor education.