Elvin Isgrig

Elvin Isgrig had a distinguished career that spanned both military service and academia. He served for 27 years in the United States Air Force, where he worked in systems engineering and held the role of project manager. Upon retiring with the rank of Colonel, he transitioned to academia, beginning as Dean of the Defense Systems Management College—now known as the Defense Acquisition University. He later joined North Dakota State University, where he taught for 23 years, chaired the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management for two years, and supported both the Computer Science and Software Engineering programs.

At NDSU, Professor Isgrig was instrumental in developing and leading capstone courses in collaboration with industry partners. He introduced, organized, and facilitated team-based capstone experiences for students, overseeing more than 100 client-sponsored projects. He held degrees in Industrial Engineering and Management, Aeronautical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, and completed a year-long Education-With-Industry program in Astronautics and Space Vehicles with the Boeing Company.

In addition to his academic contributions, Isgrig served for a decade as Director of Educational Services for the Project Management Institute (PMI). While continuing to teach full-time at NDSU, he also delivered project management training for organizations across the U.S., Europe, and Australia. He was recognized as a PMI Fellow for his contributions to the field, which included conducting industry-wide educational needs assessments and developing a wide range of professional development programs.