As the president of Maritime Communication Services, a subsidiary of the Harris Corp., and the chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Board, he is helping to build a connection between the UF College of Engineering and Harris. The partnership allows engineering students and Harris engineers to work together on research projects. Simonian is also on the search committee for the new engineering college dean, though he said it’s a position he almost wishes he didn’t have.
“There’s this gold standard,” Simonian said of Dean Pramod Khargonekar’s legacy. “He’s left tough shoes to fill.”
Simonian, along with the other Advisory Board members, has volunteered to give up his spot in deference to the new dean, though he said he’s more than willing to continue to serve the college.