John
Dr. Sammarco is a retired Principal Research Engineer with a distinguished 35-year career advancing occupational safety and engineering practice. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from West Virginia University and has authored more than 75 publications focused on mining safety, including machine functional safety, control systems, mine illumination, and sensor technologies. His early work in robotic-assisted mining helped reduce worker exposure to hazardous conditions, while his more recent research examined the human factors of solid-state lighting to enhance miner safety and support self-escape. A recognized expert in mine illumination, Dr. Sammarco has received numerous honors, including the Health and Human Services Innovation Award and CDC Engineer of the Year. He has also been deeply involved in ABET accreditation since 1996, serving in leadership roles including Past Chair of the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission. An ABET Fellow, he continues to support engineering programs through accreditation consulting.
