Wenceslao Ruiz transforms ideas into action
January 17, 2025
By Yuri Bult-Ito
Wenceslao Ruiz works as the Design Lab manager of ACEP’s Power Systems Integration program while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
“A mix of curiosity, passion and a desire to make a tangible impact drove me to ACEP.”
These are the words of Wenceslao Ruiz, who works as the Design Lab manager of ACEP’s Power Systems Integration program while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at UAF.
Ruiz originally joined ACEP as a student assistant in November 2023 but was soon recognized for his depth of experience. When the previous manager departed in the spring of 2024, he was promoted to manager.
“Wenceslao is dedicated to delivering quality work,” said Mariko Shirazi, who leads the PSI program. “He pays attention to detail and goes above and beyond what is expected of him to ensure the result is as good as possible.”
Ruiz says his path to ACEP has been anything but conventional.
Prior to ACEP, Ruiz spent 22 years in U.S. military service — six years in the Navy and 16 years in the Army.
Ruiz solders together small components for installation in the power inverter.
In the Navy, Ruiz worked as an electronics technician. He learned the value of precision and adaptability, which he brings to his current work at ACEP. He was a field artillery radar operator in the Army, honing his leadership skills and technical expertise before retiring as a sergeant first class. Alongside his military career, Ruiz earned an associate degree in process technology — the use of machines and equipment to create and deliver products or services — and a certificate in instrumentation technology.
In his role as the Design Lab manager, Ruiz supports research in grid-forming inverters — inverters that can operate independently or in coordination with other sources such as solar, wind or battery. He does so by building, modifying and troubleshooting essential equipment. Ruiz is also responsible for maintaining and supporting other projects in the lab through equipment requisition or technical support. All this work involves a lot of hands-on problem-solving and occasional collaboration with other team members.
Ruiz believes that progress is not just about ideas. It is about action.
“The high-stakes, disciplined atmosphere of the military taught me how to think on my feet and tackle complex problems,” Ruiz said.
The multi-talented Ruiz delights his colleagues with his home-baked conchas, Mexican sweet bread rolls.
“I’ve come to believe that to make the world a better place, you need to be willing to put in the effort, even when it’s difficult or messy.”
He was drawn to ACEP because he saw the mindset of doing the hard work that leads to meaningful progress is part of its culture.
“Alaska presents unique and often formidable energy challenges,” Ruiz said. For him, ACEP is the perfect place to immerse himself in cutting-edge research that addresses those problems.
With his curiosity and independence, Ruiz keeps pushing the envelope.
“Wenceslao strives to understand existing functionalities and how they can be improved,” Shirazi said. “On top of all this, Wenceslao is a natural leader, with a wide base of experience to call from, he steps easily in mentorship roles.”
Outside of work, Ruiz enjoys spending time with his family and their four dogs.
“Spending quality time with them is a priority,” he said.
His curiosity goes beyond PSI research. He is a big fan of science fiction and supernatural stories such as Star Trek, The Expanse and Doctor Who; they expand how he thinks about the world.
He also finds anime, manga and comic books to be fascinating storytelling media.
“They mix creativity and depth in a way that always sparks new ideas, helping me place complex issues in perspective and keeping me inspired,” he said.