Ghaith Rabadi, Ph.D.
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Professor and Graduate Program Director at the School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training (SMST) at the College of Engineering and Computers Science (CECS) at University of Central Florida (UCF), Orlando, FL. Prior to joining UCF in 2022, he was also a Professor and Graduate Program Director at the Department of Engineering Management & Systems Engineering (EMSE) at Old Dominion University (ODU), 2002-2022, and former Vice President for Research & Development at Princess Sumaya University for Technology, PSUT, (2018 – 2020). He received his Ph.D. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering from UCF in 1999 and 1996 respectively. After his Ph.D., he was a post-doctoral researcher and a Visiting Assistant Professor at the Industrial Engineering and Management Systems Department (IEMS) at UCF where he worked on NASA funded projects. He also worked for a year as an R&D Director at Productivity Apex, a modeling and simulation company based in Orlando, FL.
He co-authored two books, and over 120 peer reviewed journal and conference articles, and book chapters. He received the NASA Faculty Fellowship where he worked at NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia as a faculty fellow. For their work on Space Launch Vehicles simulation, he and his colleagues received the NASA Software Invention Award and the NASA Board Action Invention Award. He is also the recipient of the Fulbright Specialist Program award in 2008. He supervised 18 Ph.D. student dissertations, and 4 M.S. theses. His former students are now employed at various academic institutions at different ranks including deans, associate deans and professors, as well as senior researchers in the government and the private industry.
His research received several million dollars in funding from NASA, US Department of Education, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Virginia Port Authority (VPA), MITRE Corporation, Boeing, Army Corps of Engineers, STIHL, CACI, Sentara Hospitals, Qatar Foundation, UCF College of Medicine, among others. His research and teaching interests include Simulation Modeling & Analysis, Digital Twins, Supply Chain and Logistics, Planning and Scheduling, Operations Research, Machine Learning and Disaster Informatics and Disaster Logistics. He is a co-founder and is currently the Chief Editor for the International Journal of Planning and Scheduling.
Education
- Ph.D., Industrial Engineering, University of Central Florida
- M.S., Industrial Engineering, University of Central Florida
- B.S., Industrial Engineering, University of Jordan
Appointments
- Graduate Program Director, School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training, UCF
- Professor, School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training, UCF
Courses
- Computational Optimization Models and Methods
- Operations Research, Simulation Modeling
Highlights
Books
Carter, M.W., Price, C.C., and Rabadi, G. (2018) “Operations Research: a Practical Introduction” 2nd edition, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group. www.operationsresearch.us
Rabadi, G. (ed) (2016) Heuristics, Meta-heuristics and Approximate Methods in Planning and Scheduling, Series: International Series in Operations Research & Management Science, Springer International Publishing Switzerland. http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319260228
Journal Articles (selected)
- Abdelnabi*, A., Rabadi, G. (2024) “Human Detection from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles’ Images for Search and Rescue Missions: A State-of-the-Art Review, IEEE Access, 12, pp. 152009-152035, 1109/ACCESS.2024.3479988
- Garcia, C., Rabadi, G., Abujaber, D. and Seck, M. (2023) “Supporting Humanitarian Crisis Decision Making with Reliable Intelligence Derived from Social Media Using AI” Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 20 (2), pp. 97-131. https://doi.org/10.1515/jhsem-2021-0042
- Soykan, B.*, and Rabadi, G. (2022). “A Simulation-Based Optimization Approach for Multi-Objective Runway Operations Scheduling”, Simulation: Transactions of the Society for Modeling and Simulation International, 98, No. 11, pp. 961-978https://doi.org/10.1177/00375497221099544
- Tahami, H.*, Rabadi, G., Haouari, M. (2020) “Exact Approaches for Routing Capacitated Electric Vehicles”, Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, V. 144, 102126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2020.102126
- Rabadi, G., Msakni, M.K., Rodriguez-Velasquez, E. *, Alvarez-Bermudez, W. (2019). “New Characteristics of Optimal Solutions for the Two-Machine Flowshop Problem with Unlimited Buffers, Journal of Operational Research Society (JORS), V. 70, No. 6, 962 – 973. https://doi.org/10.1080/01605682.2018.1475114
- Garcia, C.*, Rabadi, G., and Handy, F. (2018). “Dynamic Resource Allocation and Coordination for High-Load Crisis Volunteer Management”, Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, V. 8, No. 4, 533—556; https://doi.org/10.1108/JHLSCM-02-2018-0019
Awards
- NATO Innovation Challenge (2017). First winner, Logistical Decision Support Systems for Efficient Disaster Relief (with M. Seck, J. Huang., H. Tahami, and W. Khalouli)
- Doctoral Mentoring Award (2016), Old Dominion University award for mentoring Ph.D. students.
- University Design Competition for Addressing Airport Needs (2016), 2nd place, Multi-Objective Simulation-based Optimization of Runway Operations Scheduling Using a Hybrid Metaheuristic Algorithm, Transportation Research Board (TRB) Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) funded by the FAA. (With Ph.D. student B. Soykan)
- Fulbright Specialist Program Award (2008), “Business Plan Development for a Center for Modeling and Simulation in Jordan”, in Collaboration with the German-Jordanian University, June – July, 2008, Amman, Jordan.
- NASA Board Action Invention Award (2007) granted by NASA administrator Michael Griffin for the invention of “a Generic Simulation Environment for Modeling Future Launch Operation (GEM-FLO)”, NASA Case No. KSC-12488
- NASA Software Invention Award (2006) granted by NASA administrator Michael Griffin for the “Space Shuttle Macro-Level Discrete-Event Simulation Model”, NASA Case No. KSC-12497.
- NASA/ASEE Faculty Fellowship (2003), NASA Langley Research Center
Selected Grants
Large Language Models (LLM) for Creating guidelines (structure) for standardized feedback on History and Physical Exam (H&P), $10,000, Clerkship Educational Grant (AY 2023-2024) in collaboration with UCF College of Medicine (internal funding)
Language Model Utility and Limitations for Clerkship Director Summaries (LUCID), $10,000, Clerkship Educational Grant (AY 2023-2024), in collaboration with UCF College of Medicine (internal funding)
Artificial Intelligence Models for Search and Rescue in Disasters Using Autonomous Drones. Agency: Virginia Research Investment Fund (VRIF), April 1, 2022 – December, 2022, $50,000
Modeling and Simulation for NATO’s Rapid Deployment Logistics. Agency: NATO Allied Command Transformation, July 6, 2017 – December 31, 2017, $56,000
Process Modeling and Scheduling at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Agency: Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, September 2008 – June 2009, $86,520 (This contract was stopped due to shortage in funding due to 2008 financial crisis)
System-of-Systems Engineering Modeling and Analysis for the Secure Border Initiative (SBI), Agency: MITRE Corporation (funded by the Department of Homeland Security), June 2007 – September 2007, $145,000
Operation and Support Cost Assessment Research Based on an Architectural Simulation Model for Future Launch Systems”, Agency: NASA Langley Research Center, October 2003-February 2004, $35,000,
NATO Logistics User Operations Requirements Assessment. Agency: NATO’s Headquarter, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, June 30, 2016 – November 30, 2016, $44,800
Analytics via Operational and Logistical Simulation and Animation Models for Doha’s New Port”, Agency: Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) of Qatar Foundation through Qatar University, January, 2015 – January, 2018, $823,033
Analytics for System-wide Infrastructure and Capacity Planning for Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup”, Agency: Qatar Foundation, November, 2013 – December, 2016, $570,000
Integrated Modeling and Optimization Approaches for Airport Terminal Area Management, Funding Agency: Qatar Foundation, December, 2010 – January, 2013, $493,033
The Development of Modeling and Simulation Engineering Courses in Support of Modeling and Simulation Graduate Program, Agency: Boeing, January 2009 – December 2009, $100,000
Design of a Customized Project Management Development Program for the US Army Corps of Engineers-Norfolk District (USACE-NAO) (Phase II)”. April 2009-December 2009. Agency: Army Corps of Engineers—Norfolk District, $77,282
Security Risk Analysis of Norfolk International Terminal (NIT)”, Agency: Virginia Port Authority, October 2005 – September 2006, $110,000
The Department of Homeland Security Border System-of-Systems Engineering Analysis, Agency: Department of Homeland Security through NAVAIR, October 2004 – March 2006, $819,212
Rabadi, G., Azevedo, R., Li, Yao, Mondesire, S., Sabri, S., and Soykan, B. Graduate Certificate in Digital Twins for Next Generation Modeling and Simulation. Agency: US Department of Education, Modeling and Simulation Program, January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2026, Total Amount: $1,443,863 (DoEd: $1,154,940; UCF match: $288,923)
Rabadi, G. and Papelis, Y. Artificial Intelligence Models for Search and Rescue in Disasters Using Autonomous Drones. Agency: Virginia Research Investment Fund (VRIF), April 1, 2022 – December, 2022, Amount: $50,000
Bhatti, D., and Rabadi, G. Creating guidelines (structure) for standardized feedback on History and Physical Exam (H&P) assignments during Medical Student Clerkships to prepare Dataset for future Large Language Models (LLM) training data set, $10,000, Clerkship Educational Grant (AY 2023-2024) UCF College of Medicine
Taitano, A., and Rabadi, G. Language Model Utility and Limitations for Clerkship Director Summaries (LUCID), $10,000, Clerkship Educational Grant (AY 2023-2024), UCF College of Medicine
Bhatti, D., and Rabadi, G. “Exploring Use Case of Large Language Models in Medical Education: A Case Study Familiarizing Medical Students with Use of LLM for Education – Developing Chain of Thought, Few-Shot Prompts and Contextual Prompting”, $10,000, Dept. of Medicine Research Pilot Award Program (2023-2024)
Rabadi, G. and Seck, M. Modeling and Simulation for NATO’s Rapid Deployment Logistics. Agency: NATO Allied Command Transformation, July 6, 2017 – December 31, 2017, Amount: $56,000
Rabadi, G., Al-Salem, A. (Qatar University Lead), Diabat, A. (Masdar Institute of Science and Technology). “Analytics via Operational and Logistical Simulation and Animation Models for Doha’s New Port”, Agency: Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) of Qatar Foundation through Qatar University, January, 2015 – January, 2018, Amount: $823,033
Ghoniem, A. (UMASS Amherst), Rabadi, G., and Al-Salem (Qatar University), A. “Analytics for System-wide Infrastructure and Capacity Planning for Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup”, Agency: Qatar Foundation, November, 2013 – December, 2016, Amount: $570,000
Rabadi, G. “Integrated Modeling and Optimization Approaches for Airport Terminal Area Management”, Funding Agency: Qatar Foundation through Qatar University, December, 2010 – January, 2013, Amount: $493,033
Rabadi, G. Keating, C., Bowling, S., Landaeta, R., Earnest, D., Unal, R., “System-of-Systems Engineering Modeling and Analysis for the Secure Border Initiative (SBI)”, Agency: MITRE Corporation (funded by the Department of Homeland Security), June 2007 – September 2007, Amount: $145,000,
Rabadi, G., “Research Extension of The Architectural Simulation Model for Existing and Future Launch Systems”, Agency: NASA Langley Research Center, July 2004-February 2005, Amount: $28,118,
Rabadi, G., “Operation and Support Cost Assessment Research Based on an Architectural Simulation Model for Future Launch Systems”, Agency: NASA Langley Research Center, October 2003-February 2004, Amount: $35,000
Research Interests:
Supply Chain & Logistics
Transportation Systems
Disaster Response logistics and Informatics
Production and Service Systems
Areas of Expertise:
Simulation
Optimization
Meta-heuristics
Digital Twin
Application Areas:
Aviation
Social Media
Transportation