President's Profile
Dr. Kevin Brown, PhD, MEng (Hons.), AMIMechE
President, University of Technology, Jamaica
Profile
Dr. Kevin Brown was appointed fifth President of the University of Technology, Jamaica for a period of five years with effect from September 11, 2023. Dr. Brown has been a trailblazer in academia and the aerospace industry for over 18 years. He is a technical expert in complex and integrated aerospace structural system design and a thought-leader in transport systems, engineering materials and numerical computational analysis.
In his most recent role, he served as Technology Project Lead for Civil Aerospace Technology and Future Programmes at Rolls-Royce – a leading global aerospace company and provider of jet engines for commercial and defence aircrafts with over 44,000 employees worldwide. He joined Rolls-Royce in 2013 and has held a number of technical and management roles with responsibility for strategic planning, financial management and leadership of global teams across the Rolls-Royce aerospace business including New Product Introduction, Research and Technology, Future Programmes and Aftermarket Services.
In his previous role as Programme Manager, he led a series of multi-million pound complex strategic change management projects that were focused on delivering corporate goals for cost reduction, improved safety, customer satisfaction and increased financial return.
He is an inventor and holds a patent in America and Britain. He is also an entrepreneur and co-founder of a start-up company in telecommunications. His innovative and pioneering work includes the strategic development of lightweight composite material structures for future jet engines through collaboration with a series of technology partners and top UK universities including Oxford and Bristol Universities. He has had responsibility for a portfolio of high value technology programmes. His work led to the recent introduction of a composite fan system on the new Rolls-Royce demonstrator engine, the UltraFan, which promises to be the engine of the future.
Prior to joining Rolls-Royce, he was a Research Fellow in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham for 5 years where he led world-class research on developing novel composite materials and structures, including numerical computational models and undertaking complex experimental processes.
He has authored and won multi-million pound research grant proposals and has published 22 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers. Dr Brown has also taught and supervised many undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students and completed several consultancy assignments for major British and international companies. He is a member of several professional institutions including the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
Dr Brown has an impressive record of community engagement and public service over the last 20 years, holding several leadership roles, establishing a range of initiatives and working closely with politicians, Government Ministries, Agencies and Departments as well the private sector and NGOs. He is a radio broadcaster and has been the host of the Talkback Show on 97.5 KEMET FM for over 12 years. He has also been a guest commentator on BBC radio.
Born and raised in Jamaica, Dr Brown is an alumnus of UTech, Jamaica where he completed a Diploma (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering majoring in Production in 2000 and was President of the Student’s Union. He received a scholarship from Ford Motor Company and earned a Master’s degree and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nottingham.
Dr Brown is the recipient of several awards for achievements in scholarship, academia and community service with the most recent being a Rolls-Royce ‘Recognition Award’ and the Sons of the Father Men's Movement Award for ‘Services to the Jamaica Diaspora.’ He is a qualified England Cricket Board (ECB) cricket coach and an English Football Association (FA) football coach.
Dr Brown is married with 2 children.
As President of the University of Technology, Jamaica, Dr. Brown will carry out the functions of chief academic and administrative officer of the University, reporting directly to the Council, through the Chancellor. He will be principally responsible for implementing the Council’s policies and will exercise such executive powers as necessary for the proper administration and operation of the University.
In accepting the appointment, Dr. Brown affirmed that "I am committed to working closely with the entire university community and key stakeholders to ensure that UTech, Jamaica becomes a beacon of excellence, empowering our graduates to make significant contributions to the nation and beyond.”