Our host for the Partial Discharge Workshop is Dr. Stanislaw Grzybowski (SM' 1970, F'1999, LF'2002) was born in Poland. He received the M. Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Warsaw in 1956 and 1964, respectively. In 1984 he obtained the Dr. Hab. (Dr. Habilitated) degree from the Technical University of Wroclaw, Poland.

In 1956 he joined the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Technical University of Poznan, Poland. From 1958 to 1981, he was the Head of the High Voltage and Electrical Material Division and served as Vice-Dean of Electrical Engineering Faculty in 1969. From 1975 through 1977 he was a Visiting Professor at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada, and the University of South Carolina. He also served as a Visiting Scientific Advisor to Instituto de Investigaciones Electricas, Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Dr. Grzybowski joined Mississippi State University in 1987 where he is Professor and Director of the High Voltage Laboratory at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

His main research interests are in the aresa of high voltage engineering. He conducted study on electrical strength, dielectric degradation and aging processes in polymer insutation such as cables, insulators, and magnet wires, and has also performed research on lightning protection of power systems, ships, aerostats, and other objects. Dr. Grzybowski is the author/co-author of three books in high voltage engineering, three problems books on HV Engineering for students, and has presented his research results in over 70 papers published in IEEE Transactions and other refereed journals. Over 200 of his research papers have been published in Proceedings of International and National Conferences.

Dr.hab. Wojciech Koltunowicz works for OMICRON electronics GmbH, focusing on monitoring of HV equipment. From 1987 to 2007 he was with CESI, Italy, where he was mainly involved in testing and diagnostics of HV equipment. From 1984-1987, he was with Institute of Power in Poland, as a research scientist in the High Voltage Department. He received the M.S., PhD and Dr.hab, degrees in electrical engineering from the Warsaw University of Technology in 1980, 1985 and 2004, respectively.

He is a member of IEC TC 42 WG 14 "High Voltage Test Techniques: Measurement of Partial Discharges by Electromagnetic and Acousic Methods" and member of different working groups of CIGRE Study Committee D1 "Materials and Emerging Test Techniques." In particular, he is a Secretary of: WG D1.25 "Application Guide for PD Detection in GIS using UHF or Acoustic Method," TF D1.03.09 "Risk Assessment of Defects in GIS by PD Diagnostics" and Secretary of Advisory Group D1.03 "Insulating Gases". He is a member of two other working groups in CIGRE SC D1: WG D1.28 "Optimized Gas-insulated Systems by Advanced Dielectric Coatings and Functionally Graded Materials" and WG D1.37 "Maintenance and Evaluation of Measuring Procedures for Conventional and Unconventional Partial Discharge Testing." He is author of several scientific papers.

Caspar Steineke is currently Systems Architect with OMICRON. His passion for instrumentation design led to his co-founding of of mtronix Precision Measuring Instruments, which was acquired by OMICRON electronics in 2006.

Given his prior background in instrumentation for dielectrics research at the Berlin University of Techology, his work at mtronix included system for measuring power factor/tan delta, a line of partial discharge (PD) measuring systems, various high-frequency, real-time image processing systems and a major scientific payload for the International Space Station (ISS). Caspar was involved in every design and application aspect of OMICRON's PD measuring systems. His main concern is with simplifying the sometimes complex science of measuring PD.

Burkhard "Burk" Daniel is Principal Software Architect with OMICRON's Core Components and Infrastructure Development Group. He is the developer of the MPD Software and various other applications that are found in OMICRON products.

Educated as a Computer Engineer at the Technical University of Berlin with a stint at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Burk joined what was then mtronix in 2002 and has worked on Partial Discharge and tan-delta measurement equipment ever since. Apart from being involved in the development of the MPD range of products, Burk has also trained engineers in its use, provided expert advice to users worldwide, and has helped install MPD-based systems on a variety of assets around the globe.

Dr. Alexandre Kraetge studied High Voltage and Power Engineering at the Technical University of Berlin. In 2006 he was awarded his PhD from the Berlin University of Technology. His thesis topic was "Diagnosis of the Short Circuit Performance of Power Transformers."

Since 2006 Alex has worked in product management at OMICRON electronics GmbH, responsible for FRA and PD equipment, and is currently High Voltage Asset Diagnostics Manager. He is a member of CIGRE, IEC, IEEE, DKE, and is active in numerous working groups.

Paul Winter is an Application Engineer for OMICRON electronics Corporation USA and is responsible for the MPD series of partial discharge test equipment throughout the Americas region.

He previously worked for over 20 years as an Application Engineer for a high voltage test equipment manufacturer such as insulations, power transformers, and high voltage cables. During this time he gained a great deal of knowledge in measurement and analysis of partial discharges. Paul is a member of IEEE.

Thomas Prevost is a Primary Manager at OMICRON who worked for 25 years for Weidmann Electrical Technologies, as Vice-President of Technology. Earlier in his career Tom worked at Tampa Electric Company as an engineer in distribution and production.

Tom received his BSEE from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and is a Senior Member of IEEE and Vice-Chair of the P2030 "Smart Grid" working group. He is also Past-Chair of the IEEE PES Transformers Committee and is a member-at-large of the IEEE PES Board of Governors. Tom is also active in ASTM committee D27 on Insulating Fluids and IEC TC10 on Insulating Fluids.