Photo by J. Emilio Flores/Cal State LA
South Pasadena resident David Blekhman, professor of technology in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology at Cal State LA, received the President’s Distinguished Professor Award during the University Convocation and Investiture on Aug. 18.
The annual event marked the start of the academic year and included the investiture of Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes as the university’s ninth president.
“An internationally recognized expert in hydrogen technology, clean energy, and advanced transportation systems, Blekhman was presented with the President’s Distinguished Professor Award, which recognizes an outstanding faculty for superlative teaching, exceptional dedication to students, and sustained professional excellence,” states the university announcement.
Blekhman began his career at Cal State LA in 2007.
He is the founding technical director of the university’s Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility (HRFF), commissioned in 2011.
The HRFF produces hydrogen through electrolysis and serves as a vital hub for education, research, and innovation in zero-emission transportation.
Blekhman’s contributions have earned him prestigious honors including the 2023 CSU Wang Family Excellence Award for Outstanding Scholarship—the highest faculty recognition across the 22-campus CSU system—and Cal State LA’s Outstanding Professor Award in 2022, according to Cal State LA.
He was also named a 2019-20 Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Alternative Energy Technology at Chalmers University in Sweden.
Blekhman has secured more than $36 million in grant funding as principal investigator, co-PI, and senior personnel, according to Cal State LA.
Recent awards include $7 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation, $2.2 million from the South Coast Air Quality Management District for hydrogen infrastructure, and $500,000 from the California Energy Commission for workforce development.
In 2025 alone, he received three grants totaling more than $600,000, according to Cal State LA.
Under his leadership, the HRFF has trained hundreds of students and hosted more than 12,000 visitors, including first responders, industry leaders, and international delegations.
He has led the development of the Sustainable Energy and Transportation academic concentration, guiding it to accreditation and integrating real-world experience through campus “Living Labs.”
From 2011 to 2018, Blekhman directed Cal State LA’s EcoCAR teams, which reengineered vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu and Camaro into plug-in hybrids.
These efforts earned multiple national awards, including the Green Leadership Award from Los Angeles County and the Clean Air Award from the South Coast AQMD.
He is also the co-lead of Cal State LA’s Battery Workforce Challenge student team.
Internationally, Blekhman has mentored students from Europe and built research collaborations with institutions in Sweden, Belgium, and Italy.
His thought leadership extends to industry media as a Forbes online contributor on hydrogen transportation, with his articles garnering over 60,000 views.
A South Pasadena resident, Blekhman holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in thermal physics from Saint Petersburg State Polytechnical University and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from SUNY Buffalo.
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