Engineering faculty member selected for leadership institute
Published: May 11, 2026 2:00 PM
By Carla Nelson
During the two-year program, Huang hopes to strengthen leadership skills that will directly benefit students, research collaborators and industry partners.
The International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) has selected Edward Huang, the Hal N. and Peggy S. Pennington Associate Professor in Auburn University’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, for its Technical Leadership Institute, a two-year program designed to develop the next generation of systems engineering leaders.
Huang was chosen for the institute’s newest cohort, which brings together systems engineering professionals worldwide to strengthen leadership skills through collaboration, reflection and real-world problem solving.
“Being selected for the INCOSE Technical Leadership Institute is both an honor and a responsibility,” Huang said. “I see it less as a personal achievement and more as an opportunity to grow in ways that can better serve my students, Auburn University and the broader systems engineering community.”
The institute seeks to accelerate the development of leaders who exemplify the best of systems engineering while preparing them to address increasingly complex global challenges.
Huang said the program’s collaborative approach to leadership development was one of the primary reasons he applied.
“What stood out most to me is that the program emphasizes learning through experience, reflection and collaboration rather than traditional instruction,” Huang said. “The framing of leadership development as a shared journey, one that evolves with the cohort, felt practical and authentic.”
During the two-year program, Huang hopes to strengthen leadership skills that will directly benefit students, research collaborators and industry partners.
“I look forward to developing greater self-awareness as a leader, particularly in understanding how to better support and mentor students and junior researchers,” Huang said. “Helping others succeed is a central part of my role, and I hope to become more intentional and effective in doing so.”
Huang also noted the value of building connections across disciplines, organizations and sectors.
“Much of my work involves collaboration with government, industry and academia, and I would like to strengthen my ability to align diverse perspectives toward shared goals,” he said.
The experience will also provide opportunities to bring new ideas and global perspectives back to Auburn’s industrial and systems engineering program.
“Engaging with peers from different backgrounds will not only broaden my perspective but also help me bring new ideas and approaches back to Auburn and to the students I work with,” Huang said.
Media Contact: , carla@auburn.edu, 334-844-1404
