The Energy Institute of Alabama is pleased to welcome Alabama Transportation Institute Executive Director Allen Parrish as the newest senior policy adviser for the organization.
In this role, Parrish will provide expert guidance to EIA to continue serving as the leading voice and advocate for public policies that ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for Alabamians.
“The addition of Dr. Parrish’s experience, expertise and voice as a Senior Policy Advisor will greatly benefit EIA for years to come. His accomplishments speak for themselves, and we are grateful for his vision and ongoing commitment to the people and economy of Alabama,” said EIA Chairman Seth Hammett.
Parrish began his career at the University of Alabama, where he worked for 26 years as a professor of computer science and ultimately served as the founding director of the Center for Advanced Public Safety.
In 2016, Parrish left the university to become the founding chair of the Cyber Security Program at the U.S. Naval Academy. He most recently served as the associate vice president for research at Mississippi State University before coming back to Alabama as ATI executive director in February 2020.
“Here at the Alabama Transportation Institute, we are focused on innovative research solutions to build and maintain a transportation system that propels Alabama forward by increasing safety, furthering economic growth and conserving our energy resources,” Parrish noted. “Whether it’s smart cities, electric vehicles, freight delivery efficiency or simply ensuring quality roads and bridges, we are committed to a 21st Century transportation system that supports our state’s economic vitality.”
Parrish joins an already well-established suite of senior policy advisers that are helping to further EIA’s mission. Additional senior policy advisers include Jim Sullivan of The Sullivan Group, Dr. Steven Taylor of Auburn University’s Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts and Oliver Kingsley of Auburn’s College of Engineering.
“EIA, ATI and the state of Alabama are lucky to have someone like Dr. Parrish leading the collaborative transportation efforts and policy development that continues to modernize our state’s transportation system,” said Alabama Power Company’s Houston Smith, who serves as the EIA vice chairman. “We fully support these efforts and modern infrastructure initiatives, like electric vehicles, that are major drivers of our state’s economy.”
