“We started the DCO program with single rooms at the Loudoun and Manassas campuses. Now, we’ve built full facilities at both locations, as well as at Woodbridge and discussing facilities at Alexandria and Annandale. I want to thank and applaud the entire NOVA team for making this happen.”
Balancing Roles in Academia and Industry
Calling Dr. Amir Mehmood “busy” hardly captures the full picture. Since joining NVCC in 2019, he has led the DCO program while also teaching in the Engineering Technology and DCO departments. On top of his full-time role at NOVA, Amir took on a second significant position in 2022 as a Senior Customer Success Engineer at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Balancing both worlds, he skillfully connects academic insight with industry expertise.
“My passion for engineering began with my love for math, fostered by my teachers and my natural inclination toward technology,” he shares.“For those who enjoy solving technical problems, engineering is a perfect fit. I chose electrical engineering and electronics because, in the mid-90s when I entered the field, technology was evolving at a rapid pace. Now, computers are a fundamental part of our daily lives.”
In collaboration with Dr. John Sound, Amir launched NOVA’s DCO initiative in 2019. As head of the program, he handles everything from organizing the schedule for 20 to 22 classes per semester to managing faculty and resources. Beyond his administrative responsibilities, he also teaches five to six courses each term, including Building Automation and Energy Management Systems, Electrical Machines, Electric Motor Control, Fiber Optic Technology, Power Distribution Systems, and Programmable Logic Controllers.
His dedication to teaching is evident in his interactions with students. He values their input and takes pride in their achievements. “It’s fulfilling to see students excel in such a hands-on field,” he says.
The DCO curriculum emphasizes practical learning. In the fiber optics course, for instance, students practice terminating, splicing, and testing—critical skills in the industry. In motor control classes, students use electrical trainers to perform tasks related to power distribution, and since building a full lab for power distribution is difficult, students also visit local data centers.
Since its inception, the DCO program has grown significantly. “We began with just baseline UPS systems, a few racks, and some basic equipment,” he recalls. “Each year, we’ve made strides to upgrade with newer technology.” Recently, NOVA invested in a state-of-the-art $6 million lab at the Woodbridge Campus, featuring the latest racks, UPS units, and power distribution systems.
In addition to his academic responsibilities, Amir continues his work at AWS, where he helps clients in Northern Virginia and emerging markets. His role involves addressing training needs, troubleshooting virtual systems, and advising data center communities. His industry experience brings valuable insight back to his students.
For those interested in DCO, he offers encouraging advice: “If you love technology—even if math isn’t your strongest subject—this is a fantastic field to explore. Data centers are here to stay, offering a stable and growing career path.”
The demand for DCO graduates is high. “Since 2018, the number of data centers in Northern Virginia has nearly tripled,” he notes. “While space here is limited, the industry is expanding to places like Florida, California, Oregon, Texas, and even internationally, in Europe and Asia.”