David Cowles

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Connecticut (’17)

David Cowles graduated from UConn magna cum laude as an Honors Scholar in 2017 with a B.S. in chemical engineering. Since graduating, he has worked as an engineer with MPR Associates, where he provides technical consulting in the commercial nuclear power industry. Three years after joining MPR full-time at the headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, he relocated to the East Lyme, Connecticut office. His work spans nuclear power plant modernization, hazards analyses, electrical distribution reviews, and regulatory documentation, enabling utilities to increase power output while maintaining safety. Over the past nine years, Cowles has earned multiple leadership roles, including Lead Auditor and Client Manager.

He served as the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN) MPR Chapter Lead from 2019 to 2022 and is currently a member of the IEEE Nuclear Power Engineering Committee (NPEC) Subcommittee 6 (SC6) focused on safety-related instrumentation and control systems. Cowles maintains strong ties to UConn as the campus recruiting contact for MPR and returns to campus in the spring to serve as a judge for the CBE Senior Design Demonstration Day.

Outside of work, Cowles was elected to the Town of Bolton Board of Selectmen in November 2025 and appointed to the town’s Finance Committee. He serves as Race Director for the Manchester Running Club’s Spring Street Mile & 5K and has been a regular blood donor since 2018. His career demonstrates that technical excellence and civic engagement are complementary dimensions of professional life.