Niranjan Desai, P.E.
About Niranjan Desai, P.E.
Niranjan Desai, P.E. is a Principal Engineer at American Electric Power with extensive experience in civil engineering and project management. He has worked with various engineering firms and has contributed to significant projects, particularly in the design and support of electrical substations.
Work at American Electric Power
Niranjan Desai has been employed at American Electric Power (AEP) as a Principal Engineer since 2018. In this role, he focuses on engineering projects related to electrical substations, particularly in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) regions. His responsibilities include project design, scope development, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Desai actively participates in the AEP SE Civil Coordinator group, contributing to the development of best practices within the organization.
Previous Engineering Experience
Before joining AEP, Niranjan Desai held various engineering positions. He worked at MKEC Engineering Consultants, Inc as a Project Engineer from 2007 to 2012, where he contributed to multiple projects in Oklahoma City. He also served as an AEP Consultant at W3R Consulting from 2017 to 2018. Earlier in his career, he gained experience in construction engineering inspection (CEI) services at Parsons Brinckerhoff and Mehta Engineering Consultants in 2006.
Education and Expertise
Niranjan Desai earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Lukhdhirji Engineering (L.E.) College in Morbi, where he studied from 1979 to 1983. He also studied at Saurashtra University in Rajkot, obtaining a Bachelor of Civil Engineering during the same period. His expertise includes designing and supporting electrical substations and developing tools and templates for project design and scope development.
Professional Affiliations and Contributions
Niranjan Desai is an active member of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Standing Committee on Contract Law. He has participated in and supported Subject Matter Expert (SME) and standards groups. Additionally, he served as a panel member for the ACRP 02-70 project, which focused on wetland mitigation for airports. Desai has also presented several 'Lessons Learned' sessions, discussing topics such as storm surge impacts at stations due to hurricanes.
Achievements in Project Management
Throughout his career, Niranjan Desai has demonstrated significant project management skills. He successfully obtained a permit in record time for a second access road for Fulton Station in Texas. He has documented OSHA recordable incidents and prepared reports with recommendations for improvement, showcasing his commitment to safety and operational efficiency.