Celebrating a Legacy of Excellence: Meet Dave Dickmander
Meet Our People | 10.12.2025 | 5 min read
After an incredible 41-year journey, we celebrate the remarkable career of Dave Dickmander—a key player in the Power Consulting team since the global team was formed 25 years ago. Dave has also been a true pioneer in the world of HVDC and consulting. From shaping groundbreaking projects across North America and beyond to mentoring the next generation of engineers, Dave’s impact has been nothing short of transformative. Known for his expertise in LCC and VSC technologies and his ability to bring humor and calm to even the toughest challenges, Dave leaves behind a legacy of innovation, collaboration, and professionalism that will inspire us for years to come.
Please join us in celebrating 25 years of global consulting and listening to one of our key contributors over the years.
Meet Dave Dickmander, Power Consulting Director, most recently based in Raleigh, US.
- Hello Dave, honored to meet you. Please tell us a bit about your start in our company. What inspired you to join us more than 40 years ago?
I started with the “A” in ABB (ASEA) back in 1984. At the time, ASEA had a small but highly respected presence in the US, having built HVDC projects such as the Pacific DC Intertie (PDCI), and the CU HVDC project years earlier. So I knew that ASEA was a highly technology-focused company, which was very appealing to me as a new engineer. That, plus the opportunity to live and work in Sweden, were very attractive.
- Looking back, what are some of the most memorable moments?
My first moment as a new employee was when my boss and I boarded a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) DC-10 at Chicago O’Hare airport. We were headed for Sweden, and that was the start of a 9-month training period in Ludvika. It was my first time in a foreign country - a fascinating and very rewarding experience!
- What has been the most rewarding part of your job?
Certainly, the relationships I’ve built with other engineers over the years, starting in Sweden – I’m still in touch with many colleagues over there. More recently, the relationships I’ve built with other engineers in the Consulting organization have been very rewarding. Both in Sweden and the US, I’ve always been surrounded by colleagues I’ve learned so much from over the years.
- What are you most proud of?
Two areas of my work have been very rewarding. My years in Power Consulting working especially with HVDC have given me the opportunity to work on projects worldwide, and their scale and technical challenge has allowed me to work with some of the best power engineers in the world, on some of the highest-rated power transmission systems in the world. At the other end of the scale, during several years in the research organization in the US, I was able to develop closed-loop control systems software from the “ground up”, for low-voltage power electronics products like fuel cell power conditioners. That gave me very valuable experience in control design, multi-rate real-time software systems design, and communications protocols.
- How do you think Power Consulting has changed during your time here?
It has expanded enormously. My early days in the company, after returning from Sweden, were with the “ASEA Power Systems Center” in Wisconsin, which was actually a small power consulting organization with both internal and external customers. At that time (early 1980s), we were only a handful of engineers. Now, Power Consulting is a global organization with many, many engineers worldwide. The technology areas addressed by Power Consulting have also expanded. So the scope and global reach of the organization is huge now, compared to those early days.
- Power Consulting has now reached 25 years as a global organization - what has the formation of the global organization meant in your opinion?
I think the formation of the global Power Consulting team has meant better and sharper expert services to our customers. It has given engineers more opportunities to meet and work with engineers in the different countries of our global footprint, and that’s priceless. I’ve had occasions over the years in which I needed information on a technology area and found that global organizations like IEC, CIGRE, etc. provided information that augmented US organizations like ANSI, IEEE, etc. And those global resources were often pointed out by colleagues working overseas, which strongly supports having a global focus for the organization.
- What advice would you give to someone just starting their career here?
Always be open to learning new technologies and tools and never be afraid to ask questions! Over the years I’ve always found colleagues who were ready to help with advice and suggestions. Remember that the only “silly question” is the one that is never asked!
- Who or what had the biggest influence on your professional journey?
I would say it would have to be Dr. Dennis Carroll, the professor I worked for during graduate school at Purdue. Dr. Carroll had a quiet, patient, and helpful approach to his students – an excellent mentor. He was also a friend of Dr. Willis Long, who headed the ASEA Power Systems Center during those years. So it was that connection that led me to ASEA and my career with the company.
- What will you miss the most about working here?
The daily contact with colleagues here in the US and in Sweden. I’ve built friendships with many colleagues over the years, and I’ll miss that very much.
- What are you most looking forward to in retirement?
More time for travel, hobbies, family and friends, and tackling the long list of “to do” items my wife has prepared for me!
- If you could describe your time here in one word or phrase, what would it be—and why?
Fulfilling. When I was in school, I never imagined having such a long and rewarding career!
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