Dr. Mladen Kezunovic, Eugene E. Webb, Regents and University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University, was awarded the 2024 International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE) Medal. The CIGRE Medal is granted every two years to a maximum of two members of CIGRE worldwide in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the development of CIGRE.
He was recognized for his contributions to CIGRE as the U.S. representative of the protection and automation committee for the last six years, his nine CIGRE national and global awards and also his research in control and protection of power systems.
Kezunovic has been an avid member of CIGRE for over four decades, traveling across the globe to attend conferences and meeting colleagues along the way.
“You get to learn what people are doing in control and protection in places like South Africa, India, Korea and Brazil. I've been around the world, probably to 50 countries on six continents, attending hundreds of CIGRE events. As you can imagine, it’s both interesting and educational,” Kezunovic said.
Over the years, Kezunovic has won awards with the U.S. National Committee of CIGRE including the Best Paper Recognition Award in 1996, 1998 and 2004; the Atwood Associate Award in 2008; the Philip Sporn Award in 2019; and the Dale Douglass Award for Technical Advancements in 2021.
He has also won global awards with CIGRE, including the Technical Committee Award for “remarkable technical contribution to the study committee B5, protection and automation” in 2012; the Fellow and Honorary Member Award in 2014; and the Distinguished Member Award in 2018.
Kezunovic credits peers, students and family for a lifetime of achievements.
“I honestly feel that when I receive an award, it's a recognition of me and everybody else around me,” Kezunovic added. “Family and peer support are crucial components. And I learn from my students as much as they learn from me. They are co-authors of my papers and contribute to the working group material. They are in the background of what I deliver to CIGRE.”
Kezunovic traveled to Paris, France, and attended the CIGRE Biennial General Session, where he received his award and was honored by thousands of attending fellow researchers and peers.