Ben Rodriguez will serve as the chair for the new Engineering for Professionals program in Data Analytics Engineering. Rodriguez previously served as interim chair for the Data Analytics Engineering program and will retain his position as co-chair of the EP Data Science program, making him uniquely suited to this role.
As interim chair of the Data Analytics Engineering program, Rodriguez worked closely with EP leadership, program coordinators, and faculty to build a program containing academic rigor, curricular relevance, and an exceptional student experience. He played a central role in advancing the DAE program through the approval process for its launch as a new program this spring.
Rodriguez ensured that the DAE curriculum aligned with emerging industry needs in data engineering, scalable analytics systems, machine learning operations, and applied artificial intelligence. These efforts included refining course offerings, supporting faculty recruitment and mentoring, and engaging stakeholders to ensure the program evolves in step with workforce demands.
Rodriguez also serves as co-chair of the Data Science program, which has enabled him to gain a comprehensive view of EP’s data-focused portfolio while further refining his expertise in strategic planning, curriculum development, and cross-program coordination.
In addition to his roles at Engineering for Professionals, Rodriguez is also a principal professional staff member at the Applied Physics Laboratory. In this position, he directs multidisciplinary teams—from small rapid-prototyping cells to large, cross-sector workforces—in delivering high-impact solutions spanning hypersonic weapons, space-based sensing, force design modeling, and on-orbit test and evaluation. This technical and mission-driven expertise will lend itself well to creating relevant and engaging courses for our students.
He teaches Algorithms for Data Science (685.621), Data Science: Modeling and Analytics (685.701), and Independent Study in Information Systems Engineering I (635.801).