Alumni Merit Award

Each year U-M Industrial and Operations Engineering recognizes an alum who personifies the College of Engineering’s tradition of excellence.

2018 Alumni Merit Award Honoree: Robert G. Sargent

Robert G. Sargent is a Professor Emeritus of Syracuse University. At Syracuse, Dr. Sargent held appointments in different departments and interdisciplinary programs in the L. C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science and was Director of the Simulation Research Group.

Professor Sargent received his education at the University of Michigan, earning a BSE(EE) in 1959, MS in Industrial Administration in 1963, and a PhD in Industrial Engineering in 1966.

A simulation scientist and former President of The Institute of Management Sciences (TIMS) College of Simulation and Gaming (now the INFORMS Simulation Society) his work in simulation created an environment and relationship in which he could foster significant contributions to the field throughout his career.

Professor Sargent was one of the first individuals to initiate the modeling of computer systems for performance evaluation and this work included the analysis of system data. Most of his research contributions have been in the methodology areas of simulation including the modeling area, computational speedup, statistical output analysis, verification and validation, visual interactive simulation systems, and the theory of simulation.