Bio

Paul Kokkelenberg is pleased to join NC State University as the new MSE Lab Safety Officer. He brings more than two decades of technical leadership across manufacturing operations, engineering, and continuous improvement, with a dedicated focus on operational safety, regulatory compliance, and risk reduction. Most recently, he managed the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and Design Labs at Wake Technical Community College, where he developed foundational equipment training programs for faculty, managed lab personnel, and served as a technical advisor for SkillsUSA and SME initiatives.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and a master’s degree in industrial management. His background includes extensive experience directing high- volume manufacturing facilities, managing multi-level teams, and leading cross- functional product lifecycles. Notably, as a plant manager, he successfully reduced the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) from 2.6 to 0.9 through strategic physical and behavioral safety interventions. As an ASQ certified Six Sigma Black Belt, he specializes in utilizing Lean and DMAIC methodologies to eliminate waste, improve process flow, and build sustainable safety cultures. He looks forward to collaborating with NC State’s faculty, staff, and students to ensure the university’s engineering labs maintain the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and operational excellence.