IEEE Annual Election - IEEE-USA Member-at-Large Candidates

Denis J. Ray, PHD.

DENNIS J. RAY, PHD.
(Nominated by IEEE-USA)

Deputy Director
Power Systems Engineering Research Center (PSERC)
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
www.engr.wisc.edu/centers/staff/ray_dennis.html

Dennis Ray, Deputy Director, Power Systems Engineering Research Center (PSERC), a multi-university, multi-disciplinary center collaborating with industry and government to educate the next generation of power and energy engineers, and to research challenges in electric power systems, transmission and distribution technologies, and power markets and policies. As Deputy Director, Ray helps plan and manage PSERC’s research and education activities, such as DOE-funded initiative “The Future Grid to Enable Sustainable Energy Systems.” He has actively addressed power and energy engineering workforce challenges. His education, research and work background is multidisciplinary (BSEE, 1973; power distribution engineer, USAF; MBA, 1982; PHD in Business, Public Utilities Major, 1987); in organizations facilitating informed policy-making (staff, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin; co-director, Wisconsin Public Utility Institute; deputy director, PSERC); explaining technical issues to the public and policy-makers (numerous presentations to state and federal legislators/staff, and via contributions as PSERC’s co-webmaster); and providing value to member-based organizations.

 

IEEE Accomplishments and Activities
(M’77-S’78-M’79-S’79-S’84-M’84-M’85-SM’10)
 

Member: IEEE-USA Career and Workforce Policy Committee (2008-to date)

• Led ad hoc committee to draft the IEEE-USA policy statement on Electricity Delivery Workforce Training, approved by the Board (April 2009)
• With IEEE-USA staff, visited Congressional staff in 2009-2010 to discuss engineering workforce policy issues, IEEE-USA policy statement on Electricity Delivery Workforce Training (2009), and appropriations for America COMPETES Act
• With IEEE PES and IEEE-USA, shared the IEEE-USA policy statement on Electricity Delivery Workforce Training with DOE, thereby contributing to DOE’s decision to allocate some of the US$100 Million in ARRA funding for smart grid education of power and energy engineers.
 

As IEEE PES Member:

• Steering Committee member, 2007 National Science Foundation Workshop on the Future Power Engineering Workforce
• Steering Committee member, IEEE PES Power and Energy Engineering Workforce Collaborative (2008 to date)
• Steering Committee member, IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative™ (2009 to date)
• Administrator, PES-Careers US/Canada on-line career service for power and energy engineering students (2008 to date)
• Steering Committee member, IEEE PES-Careers Global (2010 to date)

Member: IEEE Education Activities Board (appointed in 2011)

 

Statement

IEEE-USA’s value arises from being:

• a trusted source of information and advice on technologies and on policy questions which engineers can help answer, and
• a caring and supportive association for its members.

With those objectives in focus, we can successfully work to address IEEE-USA’s challenges in new and creative ways.

Ultimately IEEE-USA’s value lies in it making a difference in people’s lives as it:

• listens to its members
• proactively addresses issues arising from engineer retirements, the need for innovation and job creation, and energy and environmental challenges in the U.S. and globally
• gives priority to actions that can make a big difference to its members and to society at-large
• applies the problem-solving skills that engineers understand and practice to create value and pride in IEEE-USA membership
• celebrates and publicizes its accomplishments
• fans the flames of excitement among GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) members about the engineering profession.

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Thomas E. Tierney, PHD.

THOMAS E. TIERNEY, PHD.
(Nominated by IEEE-USA)

Scientist and Senior Project Leader
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
www.tomtierney.info

 

Tom Tierney is an early- to mid-career scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory where he serves as a senior project leader in the Countering Terrorist Tactics Program Office. Tom primarily performs research in counterterrorism, high energy density physics, radiation hydrodynamics, and advanced detector development.

In 2010, Tom received the U.S. Department of State’s Meritorious Honor Award for his contributions to counterterrorism and nuclear policy through the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism as the 2009 IEEE Engineering and Diplomacy Fellow. He is co-chair of Department of Commerce’s Emerging Technologies and Research Advisory Committee and is a member of the ANSI Accredited Standard Committee for Laser Safety (Z136).

Tom received an A.A. degree in foreign languages, B.S. degree in astrophysics, M.S. degree in physics, and Ph.D. in plasma sciences. He has coauthored over 75 unclassified and classified journal and proceedings articles in addition to over 100 LANL reports.

 

IEEE Accomplishments and Activities
(S’98-A’02-M’03-SM’07)

BOARD/COMMITTEE: Vice-Chair R&D Policy Committee, 2011. SECTION: Los Alamos Northern New Mexico: Acting Section Chair 2011, Vice-Chair 2010-2011; Section Member, 1997-2011. SOCIETY: Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society: Chapter Chair, 2006-2008; Graduates Of the Last Decade Los Alamos Northern New Mexico Chapter Founder and Chair, 2008-2011. CONFERENCES: International Conference on Plasma Sciences, Program Committee, 2008; Pulsed Power Plasma Sciences, Program Committee, 2008. AWARD: Engineering and Diplomacy Fellow, 2009.

 

Statement

IEEE-USA serves scientists and engineers through its work in cutting-edge publications, fostering professional development, developing technology standards, and enabling technical exchanges at conferences, training and workshops.

As an early- to mid-career scientist, I would help IEEE-USA evolve its programs to meet the needs of all generations of engineers and scientists. In my opinion, the vitality of IEEE-USA rests upon its ability to adapt products and services to a globalizing technology market; thus, I believe IEEE-USA should:

1. expand its use of new communication capabilities, such as virtual conferencing and real-time interactive training;
2. increase its development of multimedia environments for technical publications; and,
3. drive the emerging technologies that will become new global economic engines.

Furthermore, as a representative of the general membership, I would strive to communicate with members using:

1. monthly videoconferences;
2. social media; and,
3. quarterly reports to the membership.

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