# Michael Legatt

> Michael E. Legatt is the founder and CEO of ResilientGrid and an adjunct professor in Northwestern University's Master of Science in Energy and Sustainability program. With doctorates spanning neuropsychology and energy systems engineering, he has built a career around the human side of electric-grid reliability - from creating ERCOT's Macomber Map to teaching cybersecurity and leading industry work on AI in real-time operations.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at ResilientGrid; Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University
- **Organizations:** ResilientGrid, Northwestern University, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Human Performance Community of Practice, North American Electric Reliability Corporation
- **Education:** M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology/Neuropsychology, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology / Albert Einstein College of Medicine, M.S.E. and Ph.D. in Energy Systems Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
- **Known for:** Developed the Macomber Map, a grid visualization system used in ERCOT operations., Founded ResilientGrid in 2016 to build human-centered situational-awareness software for critical infrastructure., Led NERC's Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Real-Time System Operations white paper.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2003** — Worked as a programmer, including in the financial sector.
- **2003** — Provided emergency communications as a ham-radio operator during the Northeast blackout; the event redirected his attention toward human factors in critical infrastructure.
- **2006-2016** — Served for a decade as ERCOT's principal human factors engineer and developed the Macomber Map visualization system.
- **2009** — Named as an inventor on a patent for measuring visual function and attention in a continuous performance test.
- **2016** — Completed a Ph.D. in Energy Systems Engineering, became a Certified Performance Technologist and founded ResilientGrid in October.
- **2018** — ResilientGrid won a Capital Factory Smart City Challenge investment; Legatt was recognized by U.S. Army TRADOC as a Mad Scientist.
- **2019** — NERC selected the ResilientGrid OS platform for its SAFNR v3 situational-awareness initiative.
- **2023** — Presented a University of Texas Energy Symposium talk on situational awareness, mental models and adaptive capacity in control rooms.
- **2024** — Led NERC's white paper on artificial intelligence and machine learning in real-time system operations.
- **2025** — Began teaching Cybersecurity and the Grid in Northwestern's Master of Science in Energy and Sustainability program and earned NERC Reliability Coordinator certification.
- **2026** — Listed to teach ISEN 435 Cybersecurity and the Grid in Northwestern's spring term while continuing to lead ResilientGrid and the Human Performance Community of Practice.

## Achievements

- Developed the Macomber Map, a grid visualization system used in ERCOT operations.
- Founded ResilientGrid in 2016 to build human-centered situational-awareness software for critical infrastructure.
- Led NERC's Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Real-Time System Operations white paper.
- Co-founded the Human Performance Community of Practice for the electric utility sector.
- Received a Westchester County commendation for emergency communications work during the 2003 Northeast blackout.
- Recognized by U.S. Army TRADOC as a Mad Scientist in 2018 for work on future situational awareness and common operational pictures.
- ResilientGrid OS was selected for NERC's SAFNR v3 situational-awareness initiative in 2019.
- Earned Certified Performance Technologist status in 2016 and NERC Reliability Coordinator certification in 2025.
- Named as an inventor on U.S. patent application US20090009718A1 concerning visual function and attention testing.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — The Human Performance Community of Practice published a session on organizational journeys from punitive accountability toward learning-centered human performance.
- **2026-05** — The community featured a session on human-centered control-room design for grid modernization.
- **2026-04** — The community addressed data-center and AI-driven electricity demand in a session titled The New Arms Race: Powering America's Digital Future.
- **2026-03** — Northwestern listed Michael E. Legatt as instructor for the spring 2026 ISEN 435 Cybersecurity and the Grid course.
- **2025-08** — ResilientGrid's community program examined operating the power grid through cyber compromise and the concept of Cyber Conservative Operations.
- **2025-04** — Legatt received NERC Reliability Coordinator System Operator Certification.
- **2025-03** — Northwestern profiled his move from the 2003 blackout to teaching Cybersecurity and the Grid.

## Links

- Website: https://www.resilientgrid.com/michael-legatt-phd
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/legatt

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michael-legatt
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-26