Michael K. J. Milligan is Executive Director and CEO of ABET, a nonprofit organization that accredits nearly 3,600 college and university programs in the disciplines of applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology located in 29 countries. In this role, Milligan leads a full-time staff headquartered in Baltimore supporting the operations of over 2,200 accreditation experts. Milligan is responsible for all aspects of ABET’s global operations and reports directly to the Board of Directors.

Prior to joining ABET, Milligan worked for the Aerospace Corporation developing a new generation environmental satellite for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He also served 24 years as a career U.S. Air Force officer working in the areas of operations, international research & development, and technology acquisition. He served six years as an associate professor and Deputy Department Head in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy, in Colorado.

Milligan earned a Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin, an M.S.E. from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, and a B.S. from Michigan State University – all in electrical engineering. He also earned an M.B.A. from Western New England College, Springfield, MA and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE). Milligan is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, and a registered professional engineer in Colorado and Maryland. He lives in Severna Park, Maryland with his engineer wife and their two sons.