Bernard P. Zeigler, Ph.D.
This interview took place at the Virginia Tech Northern Virginia Center.
Interviewer: Richard E. Nance
Interview place: Falls Church, VA
Interview date: 2014-05-13
Bernard P. Zeigler, Ph.D.
Bernard P. Zeigler is Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Arizona. He received a Ph.D. in Computer/Communication Sciences from the University of Michigan (1968), the M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1964), and a B.S. in Engineering Physics from McGill University in Montreal, Canada (1962). Zeigler has held faculty appointments at the University of Michigan (1969-1975, 1980-1981), the Weizmann Institute in Israel (1975-1980), Wayne State University (1981-1984), The University of Arizona (1985-2010), and Arizona State University (2005-2008). While in Arizona, Dr. Zeigler served as the Co-Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Modeling and Simulation (ACIMS). He is currently affiliated with the Center of Excellence in Command, Control, Communications, Computing and Intelligence (C4I Center) at George Mason University and is also the Chief Scientist at RTSync Corp.
Zeigler, having published several books on modeling and simulation, is best known for his theoretical work concerning modeling and simulation performed according to general systems theory. Moreover, Zeigler has played a critical role within the modeling and simulation field through his editorial responsibilities and professional activities that focus on the importance of modeling and simulation in its interaction with other disciplines (e.g., artificial intelligence, biological systems, and defense systems architecture). Zeigler has received much recognition for his various scholarly publications, achievements, and professional service. His 1984 book, Multifaceted Modelling and Discrete Event Simulation, was published by Academic Press and received the outstanding Publication Award in 1988 from The Institute of Management Sciences (TIMS) College on Simulation. Zeigler is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as well as The Society for Modeling and Simulation International (SCS) which he served as President (2002-2004). He is a member of the SCS Hall of Fame. In 2013 he received the Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences (INFORMS) Simulation Society Distinguished Service Award. In 2015 he received the INFORMS Lifetime Professional Achievement Award, which is the highest honor given by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences’ Simulation Society.
In 2022, Zeigler was given the ACM Special Interest Group on Simulation Distinguished Contribution Award which recognizes individuals based on their overall contributions to the field of modeling and simulation, including technical innovations, publications, leadership, teaching, mentoring, and service to the community.
University of Arizona College of Engineering faculty page
"The Role of Modeling and Simulation in Coordination of Health Care" (Dr. Bernard P. Zeigler, SIMULTECH 2014)
"DEVS: Past, Present, Future" (Dr. Bernard P. Zeigler, April 11, 2016)
