Utilities & Energy Services Leadership Transition

Dear Colleagues,

It is my privilege to share that Rob Roman, director of Utilities & Energy Services (UES), will retire after more than 45 years of dedicated service in higher education, private industry, and the military, effective May 31.

In my role as interim associate vice chancellor at F&S and as the director of strategic initiatives and sustainability, I’ve been fortunate to witness how his thoughtful leadership of UES has helped deliver best-in-class power generation, utility distribution, digital controls management, energy conservation initiatives, energy performance contracting, and responsive maintenance.

Rob returned to the Urbana campus in 2020 during the pandemic, with the need to immediately safeguard utilities production and distribution sites. Those actions allowed the university to maintain essential operations and support the return of students, faculty, and staff to campus as quickly as practical.

In 2024, under his tenure, UES was recognized by the International District Energy Association (IDEA) as the System of the Year. This honor is the highest IDEA can confer on a district energy system, recognizing high-level performance, reliability, efficiency, and industry engagement, while furthering the goals of the district energy industry.

This level of success reflects Rob’s commitment to prioritizing UES service delivery and resources to enhance day-to-day operations and achieve Illinois’ Climate Action Plan (iCAP) target objectives.

Over the years, Rob has strengthened the university’s standards of excellence in utilities and energy management in various roles. Previously, he was the chief utility plant operating engineer at Abbott Power Plant, and then a director of resources for Utilities Administration from 2006 to 2012, providing project planning support to the University of Illinois System and serving as a legislative affairs liaison on utilities infrastructure and investment matters. He’s also served in a similar director capacity at the University of Illinois Chicago. Also, notably, Rob began his professional journey in 1981, proudly serving his country as a diesel generator mechanic in the U.S. Marine Corps before his career path led him to the U. of I.

With Rob’s departure, Mike Larson, associate director of utilities production, will serve as the interim director of UES. Mike’s vast experience and knowledge of campus systems and infrastructure will ensure a smooth, efficient transition process in these critical areas.

Please join me in wishing Rob the absolute best in retirement and thanking him for his many years of service at the university.

 

MORGAN B. WHITE Interim Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities & Services