In the U.S. Coast Guard, Kaye Baron (BS ECE ’25) helped people jump out of helicopters. He never had to make that jump himself, but he has made many others. He joined the military as an aspiring singer-songwriter in Seattle. After almost eight years of service, he enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering to study electrical engineering – an uncomfortable jump for an older student and veteran.
To investigate more deeply the inverter technology that fascinated him, Baron chose to pursue a master’s degree at Pitt and in May was one of ten scholars worldwide to receive the prestigious $10,000 2026 IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) Outstanding Student Scholarship. That same month, he made another jump, back on stage, playing to a live audience for the first time in over a decade.
“Music has always been a huge part of my life. It’s as important as electrical engineering,” Baron said. “This is who I am, and now people are seeing it.”
From triple scholar to outstanding student
Despite his original uncertainties about pursuing a challenging engineering degree, Baron became the first triple scholar in the IEEE PES Scholarship Plus program history after receiving three awards in 2025.
During his fourth year at Pitt, Baron wanted to conduct more research and produce a thesis that would advance the field. He enrolled in graduate-level courses and applied to the master’s program to work with his advisor Brandon Grainger, associate professor and Eaton Faculty Fellow in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
With Grainger, he investigates advancements in inverter technology. He is exploring novel ways to control these inverters – circuits that use fast electronic switches to change direct current into alternating current – more efficiently, specifically when they’re used to control a motor. During an internship with Duquesne Light Company, he applied his learning while working on the distribution and transmission planning teams, specializing in solar interconnection studies to determine whether a large solar project could safely be added to the grid.
Based on Baron’s many contributions to the PES community and the Swanson School, Grainger nominated him for the IEEE PES Outstanding Student Scholarship, a global award specifically for students pursuing a master’s degree. The award was given to ten people this year, and Baron was one of two U.S.-based students recognized.
“Kaye’s work ethic, curiosity, willingness to support his fellow students, and service sets a great example at the Swanson School,” Grainger said. “It was an easy choice to nominate him for this award.”
“It’s a great honor,” Baron said. “It’s humbling. I thought I’d eke out a degree, and here I am excelling, which seems amazing to me. I’m thankful to Pitt, the Swanson School, and Dr. Grainger, who’s been such an important mentor.”
The songs never stopped
When Baron joined the Coast Guard and later pursued his engineering degree, he put on hold his aspirations of being a performing musician. He never lost sight of that dream, though. “I never stopped writing songs,” Baron said. “I play music all the time.”
Two years ago, at one of the 72 Dave Matthews Band concerts he’s attended, he met Jen Tini, the person who would become his partner and who would encourage him to make another jump.
Kaye Baron and Jen Tini standing near a road sign to the Gorge Amphitheater in Washington State. For Dave Matthews Band fans, the Gorge is a destination venue.
Baron played his songs at home to his cat and partner, but that was different from playing in front of as many as a few hundred people. As Baron said of Tini, “She encouraged me to put my music back in the world. She said, ‘You need to do this. This is who you are?’”
With her encouragement, he formed an LLC and recorded Not Enough, a demo of original songs, at a studio in the North Hills. To keep his fans updated, he launched a website. Then he stepped on stage again, playing open mics before performing a full set this June. Today, he continues to play shows around Pittsburgh and in other states. He has opened for the Fretliners at the Original Pittsburgh Winery and played shows at Crafthouse Stage and Grill as well as local breweries.
Kaye Baron performing live at the Original Pittsburgh Winery.
“It’s really taken off,” Baron said. “It’s been amazing to get back on stage and share what I love with others.”
Getting some sand in his shoes
On November 3, Baron will defend his thesis. Then he and his partner, with his cat Louise, plan to move to St. Petersburg, Florida. He has received multiple offers for electrical engineer roles and is excited to help solve the problems facing today’s electric grid.
With Florida’s solar energy and electric power industry, Baron is excited to apply what he has learned while researching his master’s thesis. He is also drawn to St. Petersburg’s vibrant local music scene, which he plans to break into.
“The same principles that led me to join the Coast Guard and pursue degrees in electrical power engineering led me back on stage. It’s about finding what’s worth doing, and then doing it, because it leads to incredible places,” Baron said. “Engineering can improve people’s lives, and in a different way, music can too.”