Dan Litynski is currently serving with the National Science Foundation as Program Director for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) under the provisions of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA). Professor Litynski recently completed five years of distinguished service as Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Interim President at Western Michigan University (WMU). In his various roles, he has been responsible for leadership of a dynamic and growing organization, which offers a broad spectrum of undergraduate and graduate programs with a strong research commitment. WMU is a national Doctoral Research Extensive University with over 270 programs and almost 30,000 students. The University offers courses at the main campuses in Kalamazoo, but also serves as a major resource for off-campus instruction and economic growth at seven sites across Western Michigan.

Dr. Litynski served as the Provost from 2002 to 2004 and as the Chief Academic Officer for the University. He also served as chief operating officer responsible to the President for all academic matters. This period included many dynamic initiatives and included his service as Interim President. He previously served as Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Western Michigan University from 1999. During his tenure, the college grew from approximately 2300 to 3200 students. On his watch, several new programs were initiated and/or accredited. Plans for a new 270 acre Parkview Campus for Engineering & Applied Sciences were accomplished, which included the design and construction of a Business Technology & Research Park.

A native of Amsterdam New York, Dan graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics after which he was commissioned in the US Army as a Second Lieutenant of Armor. He has been awarded a Master of Science Degree in Optics from the University of Rochester and the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His national service education includes completion of the Armor Officer Basic Course, the Ordnance Officer Advanced Course, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces of the National Defense University.

Brigadier General (retired) Dan Litynski served with Armor and Ordnance units from platoon through battalion level in Vietnam and Germany. He also served with research and development organizations including The Armor and Engineer Test Board, the Ballistics Research Laboratory and the Harry Diamond Laboratory. Dan has served as a Research Officer, Assistant and Associate Professor, and Professor of Electrical Engineering at the United States Military Academy. He was appointed a Professor of the US Military Academy and Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 1990; a department which he reorganized and expanded.

Dan Litynski has been active in research and teaching in electrical engineering, optics, and physics for over twenty-five years. He has taught twenty different courses including two he initiated in Laser Physics and Photonics Engineering. He has been active in laser and electro-optic research and is the author or co-author of many international conference presentations, technical papers, book chapters, and a patent in these subjects and in educational pedagogy. He has served in numerous technical and advisory capacities including appointment as an adjunct Research Professor at Rensselaer and as a member of the International Faculty of Engineering Advisory Committee at the Technical University of Lodz, Poland where he served as their first Visiting Professor. The President of the Republic of Poland awarded him the Cavalier Cross of Merit for success in fostering Polish-American relations.

Professor Dan Litynski has been appointed to the honor societies of Eta Kappa Nu, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Pi Sigma, Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, and Upsilon Pi Epsilon. He is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and President of the IEEE Education Society. He is a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), Association of Computing Machinery (ACM), Optical Society of America (OSA) of the American Insti-tute of Physics (AIP), Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), and the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA). He received the ASEE Meritorious Service Award in recognition of academic leadership in advancing the ECE profession through scholarship and national service. He is a member of Rotary International.

General Litynski's military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster. He is authorized to wear the parachutist badge and two meritorious unit awards. He has qualified as an expert marksman with rifle and pistol, and as a sharpshooter with tank weapons.