Data center power cables (By Michelle for AdobeStock)
Tuyen “Tony” Vu, Ph.D., a Florida State University and FAMU-FSU College of Engineering alumnus, is the co-founder of INS Engineering, a power systems consulting firm that works with utilities, developers, energy owners and engineering contractors.
The company’s projects span data centers, renewable energy systems and battery storage.
For Vu, the work applies knowledge he began developing years earlier as a doctoral researcher at FSU’s Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS).
From Hanoi to Tallahassee
Originally from Vietnam, Vu earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Hanoi University of Science and Technology in 2012. He moved to the United States in 2013 to pursue a Ph.D. in electrical engineering at FSU, with a focus on power systems.
Vu said his interest in engineering grew out of an interest in control and automation and a desire to help Vietnam become more industrialized. He said he saw studying in the United States as a chance to learn from an advanced economy and gain experience he could eventually use to give back to his home country.
Vu completed his doctorate in 2016 and stayed at CAPS as a postdoctoral researcher before becoming a research faculty member. In all, he spent about five years at the center, building experience in power systems alongside other engineers and researchers.
He said his time at FSU gave him more than technical knowledge. Working with engineers, students and entrepreneurs helped him develop communication skills, build confidence and understand how ideas become practical products.
“I learned from them how to turn an idea into a product,” Vu said.
“Tony was a standout doctoral candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS),” said Sastry Pamidi, Ph.D., interim director of CAPS and a faculty member at the joint college. “His doctoral research on energy and power management advanced both his technical expertise and CAPS’ core knowledge base.”
(Scott Holstein/FAMU-FSU College of Engineering)
Pamidi said Vu’s success as a researcher and entrepreneur reflects the technical rigor of the college, the department and CAPS. He said the center’s student-focused environment, access to megawatt-scale research and network of academic and industry collaborators prepare students to solve real engineering problems.
Building INS Engineering
After leaving CAPS in 2018, Vu became an assistant professor at Clarkson University. That June, he and fellow engineer Tuan Ngo co-founded INS Engineering.
The founders saw a chance to improve the engineering consulting process as demand for power and energy expertise grew. Vu said they built automation into the company from the start to help engineering teams deliver quality work more efficiently and respond to clients more quickly.
“Back when I was in school, there was no AI, but we used a lot of automation to provide good quality service, higher speed of delivery of the product, and faster response to the client,” Vu said.
In 2023, Vu left Clarkson to work full-time at the company. INS has since grown to more than 100 engineers across the power and energy industry, and Vu said it could approach 200 employees in 2027.
“My advice for students: really talk to engineering firms and understand what is needed out there.” —Tony Vu, Ph.D.
Powering the data center buildout
Why are data centers such a large part of the firm’s work? Hyperscale data centers need enormous amounts of electricity to operate. Connecting them to the grid can be complicated, especially when limited grid capacity and long connection timelines slow developers down.
“Without power, anything AI or dealing with automation systems cannot operate,” Vu said.
INS works with clients to evaluate power system needs and develop solutions that help data centers and other large operations connect to the grid while minimizing risk. The company also supports renewable energy and battery storage projects.
Growing the next generation of power engineers
Vu said he is also focused on developing engineering talent. INS hires graduate students from several universities, including some of his former students at Clarkson. As demand for power systems expertise climbs, he said, the industry needs more engineers to handle the workload.
What does Vu recommend for students interested in the power sector? Learn what the industry needs and figure out where your skills fit.
“My advice for students: really talk to engineering firms and understand what is needed out there,” Vu said.
Vu said students who build a strong understanding of power systems will find opportunities in a field that continues to need technical talent.
From his doctoral research at CAPS to leading a firm that supports today’s energy infrastructure, Vu has put his electrical engineering training to work on one of the industry’s most pressing problems: getting power where it is needed.
Editor’s Note: This article was edited with a custom prompt for Claude Opus 5.5 an AI assistant created by Anthropic. The AI optimized the article for SEO discoverability, improved clarity, structure and readability while preserving the original reporting and factual content. All information and viewpoints remain those of the author and publication. This article was edited and fact-checked by college staff before being published. This disclosure is part of our commitment to transparency in our editorial process. Last edited: 11-10-2026.
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