The State of Utah provided a new faculty position as part of the Engineering Initiative, which was aimed at increasing the numbers of engineering graduates available to the local industry. The funding received from local companies provided other resources needed, such as equipment for new research facilities. 

Power systems programs had been progressively eliminated or consolidated in the United States over the last few decades, and no such program existed in Utah anymore. The new initiative reversed the trend at a time when electric utility companies critically needed new engineers due to retirements.