David Gurgenidze

David Gurgenidze (Georgian: დავით გურგენიძე; born 16 October 1963) is a Georgian academician, professor, honored Builder of Georgia and the current rector of Georgian Technical University.
==Education==
Academician David Gurgenidze started his education at the Kuibyshev Moscow Institute of Civil Engineering in Moscow, Russia (1981-83). Later, he continued his studies at the Georgian Polytechnic Institute (current Georgian Technical University) at the Hydraulic Engineering and Plumbing faculty in Tbilisi, Georgia (1983-87). From 1999 to 2002, he studied Law at the Georgian Technical University, where he obtained a degree and became a Master of Civil Law.
==Scientific Status==
In 2006, David Gurgenidze became a full member of the Georgian Energy Academy. In 2019, he was awarded a full membership of the Engineering Academy of Georgia. In 2021, he became a full member of the Law Academy of Georgia. In 2023, he was honored with the title of academician and became a full member of Georgian National Academy of Sciences.
==International Recognition==
In 2019, David Gurgenidze was awarded Honorary Doctor of the Institute of Water Problems and Hydro - Engineering of I.V. Yeghiazarov (Republic of Armenia). 
In 2020, Honorary Doctor of the Bialystok Technical University of Poland.
In 2021, Honorary Doctor at the National Aviation University of Ukraine and the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, respectively.
==Awards==
On December, 1999, David Gurgenidze received the Order of Honor for his personal merit in the education of students and youth, according to the Decree of the President of Georgia, Decree N1518.
On May 24, 2007, he received the "Golden Wing" award by the Journalists International Foundation for his charitable activities and philanthropy.
In 2019, he became an Honored Constructor of Georgia;
On February 16, 2022, pursuant to Article 84 (22) of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, Article 4 of the Law on State Awards and President Gitanas Nauseda's decree, Davit Gurgenidze was awarded the State Order of the Republic of Lithuania "Merit of Lithuania" - Knight's Cross. 
On May 5, 2023, Academician David Gurgenide was awarded the Dante Alighieri gold medal and diploma at the Rome headquarters of the Dante Alighieri Society (Italy ) for his personal contribution to the spread of the Italian language and culture. 
==Work & Professional Experience==
Academician David Gurgenidze's professional experience includes operational analysis and monitoring of installed capacities in Georgia and abroad (hydraulic power, water conservation hydro - system stations, and thermal power plants), and partipication in constructing and reconstructing various energy, civil and industrial facilities.
In 1980, he started as a worker at the Mtskheta Industrial Enterprise; later, during 1980 -1981, David Gurgenidze was a locksmith in Trust No.9 under the Ministry of Agricultural Construction of Georgia.
In 1983 - 1987, David Gurgenidze was appointed as the commander of the construction team at the Enguri Hydroelectric Power Station. 
From 1990 to 1993, David Gurgenidze was General Director of the Scientific and Production Association "Complex" (Tbilisi).
Later, he was appointed as a President of "CJSC" Russia, Moscow, and served on this position from 1992 to 1994. 
David Gurgenidze continued to work abroad and held high positions, amongst them as a Chairman of the board of LTD "DIVA" in Vienna, Austria in 1993-1997.
Furthermore, David Gurgenidze returned to Moscow, Russia, where he contributed to the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics as a scientific associate in 1994-1996.
From 1997 to 1998, he was deputy Head of water supply and sewerage department of the Georgian Technical University. 
In 1997, he was appointed as a general Director of JSC "Mercury"- 92 and served on this position to 2001. 
In 1998 - 2001, he served as a Head of GTU production and business promoting international center "TEMPUS TACIS". 
In 2001 - 2003 David Gurgenidze was the Chairman of the State Examination Committee of Hydro Engineering Faculty of the Georgian Technical University. 
In 2001 - 2004 he was the Deputy Minister of Heating and Energy of Georgia, supervised the direction of hydropower construction. 
From 2002 to 2005, David Gurgenidze contributed to the Department of Water Supply and Sewage of Georgian Technical University, as a scientific associate. 
From 2005 to 2011, he held the position of the advisory expert of Georgian Engineering Academy. 
From 2006 - 2007, he was an invited specialist of the faculty of Energy and Communications of the Heat Engineering and Hydropower department of Georgian Technical University.
From 2012 to 2013, as an invited specialist, David Gurgenidze continued to contribute with his expertise to the department of water supply, aqueducts, air heating supply and engineering construction of the buildings of the Civil Engineering Faculty of Georgian Technical University.
In 2013, David Gurgenidze was appointed as the Head of Educational Process Monitoring Department.
From 2015- 2017, he was the acting Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of Georgian Technical University.
From 2017-2018, David Gurgenidze led the Ph.D. educational program "Hydro Engineering" as Head. 
In 2017, He was a member of the Scientific - Advisory Board of the Regional Policy and Self - Government Committee of the Parliament of Georgia.
From 2017 to 2018 he was Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Georgian Technical University.
In 2020, David Gurgenidze was elected as the rector of the Georgian Technical University.
Since 2021, David Gurgenidze is a Member of the Georgian National Prize Commission, according to the decree N 01/0101 of the President of Georgia.
Since 2022, David Gurgenidze is a Chairman of the Engineering - Technological and Natural Science University University Dissertation Council, GTU.
In 2022, he became Associate Member of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia - according to the order N02/03 of the President of National Academy of Sciences of Georgia.
In 2023, he became Chairman of the Permanent Conference of Rectors of Georgia and Member of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia.
From 2023, David Gurgenidze is a Member of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia.
Academician David Gurgenidze coordinates and actively participates in scientific activities related to important issues of the Construction Industry in general and particularly, hydraulic facilities, thorough studies of construction materials; design and production processes; issues of seismic resistance of dams, tunnels, intake structures; design and serviceability assessments of hydraulic structures under construction in Georgia.
Academician David Gurgenidze is the author of more than 105 academic works, including 2 inventions, 7 monographs, 7 manuals, 5 auxiliary manuals, 1 encyclopedic dictionary (5 volumes) and supervised 3 international grant projects.
Furthermore, 10 doctoral theses were defended under his leadership
==Family Status==
David Gurgenidze is married with Marine Gurgenidze, Professor of Tbilisi State Medical University. She is the Head of the Academic Department of History of Medicine.
Children: Ana Gurgenidze- Diplomat.
Giorgi Gurgenidze - Head of the Department of Capital Market Development, Insurance Policy and Pension Reform of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.
Category:1963 births
Category:People from Tbilisi
Category:Georgian people
Category:Georgian Technical University alumni
Category:Academicians
Category:Professors