Biographical Sketch
Education
|
 |
B.A., University
of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of
Mathematics, 1972 |
 |
M.S., Ohio
University, Department of
Mathematics, 1975 |
|
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M.S., University
of Wisconsin-Madison, Department
of Industrial Engineering, 1979 |
|
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Ph.D., University
of Wisconsin-Madison, Department
of Industrial Engineering, 1980 |
Interests
- Computer simulation methods
and applications
- Applied stochastic processes
- Operations research
- Statistical methods
Activities
-
Interviewed for the
Computer Simulation Archive: Chronicling Computer Simulation Pioneers,
North Carolina State University Libraries, 2014.
-
Special Advisory Board on Methodology (for simulation),
Journal of Business Logistics, 2016-2017.
-
Advisory Board,
INFORMS
Journal on Computing, 2007-2016.
- Past editorial posts:
Editor-in-Chief, INFORMS
Journal on Computing, 2000 through mid-2007; Simulation Area Editor,
Operations
Research; Simulation Area Editor,
INFORMS
Journal on Computing; Simulation Department Co-Editor,
IISE
Transactions; Guest Co-Editor, Special Issue of
IISE
Transactions on Computer Simulation in IE Research and Practice; Associate Editor for
Operations
Research, INFORMS
Journal on Computing,
IISE
Transactions,
Simulation: Transactions of the Society for Modeling and Simulation
International,
and
Journal of Manufacturing Systems.
- Founding Trustee and Past President,
WSC Foundation.
- Past member (1991-1999) and 1998 Chair,
Winter
Simulation Conference Board of Directors, co-representing the
INFORMS Simulation Society.
- General Chair (1991) and
Program Chair (1987), Winter Simulation
Conference.
- Member and past president,
INFORMS Simulation Society.
- Member and
Fellow (Class of
2007) of INFORMS.
- Senior Member and
Fellow (2004) of
IISE.
Citation Count for All Publications:
36,447 total, of which 4,840 are since 2020 (per
Google Scholar,
May 19, 2026).
Books
-
Simulation with Arena
by W.D. Kelton, N.B. Zupick, and N.J.Ivey, 7th ed., McGraw-Hill, 2024
(available January 1, 2023).
-
Simio and Simulation: Modeling, Analysis, Applications, by J.S. Smith, D.T. Sturrock,
and W.D. Kelton, (first five editions; 2010 [also with A. Verbraeck], 2011,
2015, 2017, 2018), Simio LLC.
-
Simulation Modeling and
Analysis by A.M. Law and W.D. Kelton (first three editions; 1982, 1991,
and 2000), McGraw-Hill.
-
Proceedings of the Winter
Simulation Conference, 1987 and 1991 (co-edited).
Selected Papers
(links point as closely as possible to full-text
open-access, but still there are paywalls for some papers)
-
M. Chica, A.A. Juan,
C. Bayliss, O. Cordón, and W.D. Kelton, Why Simheuristics? Benefits,
Limitations, and Best Practices when Combining Metaheuristics with
Simulation,
Statistics and Operations
Research Transactions 44:2, 311-334, 2020.
-
A.A. Juan, W.D. Kelton, C.S.M. Currie, J. Faulin, Simheuristics
Applications: Dealing with Uncertainty in Logistics, Transportation, and
other Supply-Chain Areas,
Winter
Simulation Conference Proceedings, 3048-3059, 2018 (invited, refereed).
-
C. Alexopoulos and W.D. Kelton, A Concise History of Simulation Output
Analysis,
Winter Simulation Conference
Proceedings, 115-130, 2017 (invited, refereed).
- P. Kasaie, W.D. Kelton, R.M. Ancona, M.J. Ward, C.M. Froehle, M.S. Lyons,
Lessons Learned From the Development and Parameterization of a Computer
Simulation Model to Evaluate Task Modification for Health Care Providers,
Academic Emergency Medicine 25:2, DOI: 10.1111/acem.13314,
238-249, 2018.
-
A.A. Juan, M. Chica, J. de Armas, and W.D. Kelton, Simheuristics: A
Method of First Resort for Solving Real-Life Combinatorial Optimization
Problems, Keynote Address and Paper, Keynote Papers Handbook of OR58:
The Operational Research Society Annual Conference, 147–156, University
of Portsmouth, U.K., September 2016,
ISBN: 978-0-903440-60-8.
- W.D. Kelton, Methodological Expectations for Studies Using Computer
Simulation,
Journal of Business Logistics
37:2, 82-86, 2016. Invited paper in the journal's "Thought
Leadership Series".
- P. Kasaie, B. Mathema, W.D. Kelton, A.S. Azman, J. Pennington, and D.W.
Dowdy, A Novel Tool Improves Existing Estimates of Recent Tuberculosis
Transmission in Settings of Sparse Data Collection,
PLOS ONE,
2015. Full text available open-access at
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0144137.
- P. Kasaie and
W.D. Kelton, Guidelines for Design and Analysis in Agent-Based Simulation
Studies, Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings,
183-193, 2015.
- T.W. Lucas, W.D. Kelton, P.J. Sánchez, S.M. Sanchez, and B.L. Anderson,
Changing the Paradigm: Simulation, Now a Method of First Resort,
Naval Research Logistics 62:4,
293-303, 2015.
Full text available open-access
via the SEED Center for Data Farming,
Department of Operations Research,
Naval
Postgraduate School.
- P. Kasaie, D.W. Dowdy, and W.D. Kelton, Estimating the Proportion of
Tuberculosis Recent Transmission via Simulation, Winter
Simulation Conference Proceedings, 1469-1480, 2014.
-
A.M. Best, C.A. Dixon, W.D. Kelton, C.J. Lindsell, and M.J. Ward,
Using Discrete Event Computer Simulation to Improve Patient Flow in a
Ghanaian Acute Care Hospital,
The American
Journal of Emergency Medicine 32:8, 917-922, 2014.
- E.J. Chen and W.D. Kelton, Density Estimation from Correlated Data,
Journal of
Simulation 8:4, 281-292, 2014.
-
P. Kasaie, J.R. Andrews, W.D. Kelton, and D.W. Dowdy, Timing of
Tuberculosis Transmission and the Population-Level Impact of Household
Contact Tracing: An Agent-Based Simulation Model,
American Journal of
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 189:7, 845-852, 2014.
- M. Yang, T.T. Allen, M.J. Fry, and W.D. Kelton, Improving Voting Systems
through Service-Operations Management,
Production and Operations Management
23:7, 1083-1097, 2014.
-
P. Kasaie and W.D. Kelton,
Simulation Optimization for Allocation of Epidemic-Control Resources,
IIE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering 3:2, 78-93, 2013.
-
P. Kasaie and W.D. Kelton, Resource Allocation for Controlling
Epidemics: Calibrating, Analyzing, and Optimizing an Agent-Based Simulation,
IIE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering 3:2, 94-109, 2013.
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M. Yang, T.T. Allen, M.J. Fry, and W.D. Kelton, The Call for Equity:
Simulation-Optimization Models to Minimize the Range of Waiting Times,
IIE Transactions
45:7, 781-795, 2013.
- A. Isla, A.C. Lin, and W.D. Kelton, Improving Pharmacy Operations by
Using Computer Simulation, chapter 7 in
Decision Making in
Service Industries: A Practical Approach, edited by J. Faulin, A.A.
Juan, S.E Grasman, and M.J. Fry, Taylor & Francis, London, 145-174, 2013.
-
P.
Kasaie, D.W. Dowdy, and
W.D. Kelton,
An Agent-Based Simulation of a Tuberculosis Epidemic: Understanding the
Timing of Transmission,
Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings,
2227-2238, 2013.
- X. Chen, E. Fernandez, and W.D. Kelton, Optimization Model Selection for
Simulation-Based Approximate Dynamic Programming Approaches in Semiconductor
Manufacturing Operations, Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings,
1977–1988, 2012.
- P. Kasaie, W.D. Kelton, A. Vaghefi, and
S.G.R. Jalali Naini, Toward Optimal Resource-Allocation for Control of
Epidemics: An Agent-Based-Simulation Approach, Winter Simulation
Conference Proceedings, 2237-2248, 2010.
- E.J. Chen and W.D. Kelton, Confidence-Interval Estimation Using
Quasi-Independent Sequences,
IIE Transactions
42:1, 83-93, 2010.
-
M. Flint, E. Fernandez, and W.D. Kelton,
Simulation Analysis for UAV Search Algorithm Design Using Approximate Dynamic
Programming, Military
Operations Research 14:2, 41-50, 2009.
- M. Yang, M.J.
Fry, and W.D. Kelton, Are All Voting Queues Created Equal?, Winter
Simulation Conference Proceedings, 3140-3149, 2009.
- W.D. Kelton,
Representing and Generating Uncertainty Effectively, Winter Simulation
Conference Proceedings, 40-44, 2009 (invited).
-
E.J. Chen and W.D. Kelton, Estimating
Steady-State Distributions via Simulation-Generated Histograms,
Computers and Operations Research
35:4, 1003-1016,
2008.
- E.J. Chen and W.D. Kelton, A Procedure for Generating Batch-Means
Confidence Intervals for Simulation: Checking Independence and Normality,
Simulation:
Transactions of The Society for Modeling and Simulation International 83:10,
683-694, 2007.
- E.J. Chen and W.D. Kelton,
Empirical Evaluation of Data-Based Density Estimation, Winter Simulation
Conference Proceedings, 333-341, 2006.
- S. Harrod and W.D. Kelton, Numerical Methods for Realizing Nonstationary
Poisson Processes with Piecewise-Constant Instantaneous-Rate Functions,
Simulation: Transactions of the Society for Modeling and Simulation
International 82:3, 147-157, 2006.
-
E.J. Chen and W.D. Kelton,
Quantile and Tolerance-Interval Estimation in Simulation,
European Journal of Operational Research
168, 520-540, 2006.
-
E.J. Chen and W.D.
Kelton, Sequential Selection Procedures: Using Sample Means to Improve
Efficiency,
European Journal of Operational Research 166,
133-153, 2005.
- E.J. Chen and W.D. Kelton,
Experimental Performance Evaluation of Histogram Approximation for Simulation
Output Analysis, Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings, 685-693,
2004.
-
E.J. Chen and W.D. Kelton, Determining Simulation Run Length With the Runs
Test, Simulation Modelling
Practice and Theory 11, 237-250, 2003.
- W.D. Kelton and R.R. Barton, Experimental Design for Simulation,
Winter
Simulation Conference Proceedings, 59-65, 2003 (invited). [Slides
for the talk]
- E.J. Chen and W.D. Kelton, Inferences
from Indifference-Zone Selection Procedures, Winter Simulation Conference
Proceedings, 456-464, 2003. [Slides
for the talk]
- W.D. Kelton, Teaching the Classics of Simulation to Beginners (panelist),
Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings, 1941-1951, 2003 (invited).
[Slides for the talk]
-
P. L’Ecuyer, R. Simard, E.J. Chen, and W.D. Kelton, An Object-Oriented
Random-Number Package with Many Long Streams and Substreams,
Operations Research 50, 1073-1074, 2002 (with accompanying
Online Companion --
downloadable .zip archive).
-
A.S.
Bhaté-Felsheim, R.D. Ericson, W.D. Kelton, M. Podkopacz, D.H. Wadhwani, and
S.A. Welter, Simulation of a Probation/Parole System,
Socio-Economic
Planning Sciences: The International Journal of Public Sector Decision-Making
36, 139–154, 2002.
- M.S.
Shanker, R. Padman, and W.D. Kelton, Efficient Distributed Simulation through
Dynamic Load Balancing,
IIE Transactions 33,
special simulation issue honoring A. Alan B. Pritsker, 203–217, 2001.
- W.D. Kelton,
Various Ways Academics Teach Simulation: Are They All Appropriate?
(panelist), 2001 Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings, 1580-1591,
2001 (invited).
- E.J. Chen and W.D.
Kelton, Quantile and Histogram Estimation, 2001 Winter Simulation
Conference Proceedings, 451-459, 2001.
- W.D. Kelton, Some Modest Proposals for Simulation Software: Design and
Analysis of Experiments, Keynote Address, Proceedings of the 34th Annual
Simulation Symposium (part of the Advanced Simulation Technologies Conference),
Seattle, 2001.
- E.J. Chen and W.D. Kelton, An Enhanced Two-Stage Selection Procedure,
2000
Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings, 727-735, 2000.
- E.J. Chen and W.D. Kelton, A Stopping Procedure Based on Phi-Mixing
Conditions, 2000 Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings, 617-626, 2000.
- W.D. Kelton, Experimental Design for Simulation,
2000 Winter Simulation
Conference Proceedings, 32-38, 2000 (invited).
- E.J. Chen and W.D. Kelton, Simulation-Based Estimation of Quantiles,
1999
Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings, 428-434, 1999.
- G.G. Jing, W.D. Kelton, J.C.
Arantes, and A.A. Houshmand, Modeling a
Controlled Conveyor Network with Merging Configuration, 1998 Winter Simulation
Conference Proceedings, 1041-1048, 1998.
- W.D. Kelton, Statistical Analysis of Simulation Output, 1997 Winter
Simulation Conference Proceedings, 23-30, 1997 (invited).
- W.D. Kelton, Perspectives on Simulation Research and Practice,
ORSA Journal
on Computing 6, 318-328, 1994 (invited by Editor-in-Chief Bruce Golden; lead
article in a cluster of seven simulation papers).
Various and Sundry Links
-
INFORMS
Simulation Society
-
SEED Center for Data Farming,
Department of Operations Research, Naval
Postgraduate School
-
Winter
Simulation Conference
-
WSC Foundation
-
Simio
- Arena
-
INFORMS
Journal on Computing
-
Institut
für Simulation und Graphik, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
-
OptTek
Systems, Inc.
-
Univariate
Distribution Relationships, by
Dr. Larry Leemis, Professor,
Department of
Mathematics, The College of William & Mary
-
Vassar College,
Department of Mathematics
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison,
Department of Integrative
Biology,
Department of Anthropology,
Department of French and Italian
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University of Utah,
Department of Mathematics (Mathematical Biology
Program)
-
UC-San Diego and San Diego
State University PhD Program in Mathematics and Science Education
-
San Diego State University
Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education
- Washington State University,
College of Education,
Department of Teaching and
Learning, Faculty,
Dr. Molly Kelton
-
University of
Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
-
Dane County Humane Society
-
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens
-
Cat Care Clinic,
Veterinarians,
Dr. Anna Kelton
-
Cincinnati Country Day School
-
Athens (Ohio) High School
-
Dr. Christina Kelton
Last update: May 19, 2026
