IEEE Annual Election - Technical Activities

John T. Barr, IV

JOHN T. BARR, IV
(Nominated by IEEE Technical Activities)

R&D Manager/Director (Retired)
Agilent Technologies / Hewlett-Packard
Santa Rosa, California, USA
www.johntbarr.net

 

John Barr received a BSEE from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1971, a MSEE in 1974 from Stanford University and a MS in Engineering Management in 1982, also from Stanford. He retired after 37 years from Agilent Technologies / Hewlett-Packard in 2008. He served in various engineering R&D roles, including as the R&D Manager/Director for Agilent’s Wireless Semiconductor Test Solutions. Prior to retiring served as Agilent’s EEsof Product Marketing Manager for RFIC EDA.

John’s technical activities started with the development and design of RF and Microwave component measurement systems, including design of RF downconvertors, IF detectors and the automation of these systems. His work in conventional and six-port network analyzers led to five patents and ten published papers covering vector error correction, time domain conversion and multi-parameter measurement systems. This evolved into a concentration in the development of high throughput manufacturing semiconductor test systems for RFICs and wireless communications ICs.
 

 

IEEE Accomplishments and Activities
(S’69-M’74-M’81-SM’84-F’02)

General Chair for successful IEEE MTT-S IMS2006 conference. Led large volunteer committee (60+), 11,000+ attendees, 1,000+ technical presentations and 900+ exhibition booths.

As TAB/PSPB Products & Services Chair oversaw the broadening of IEEE IP products to increase use (plus sunsetting some products no longer useful) and improving accessibility to a larger group of users (including access for those in under-developed nations).

Worked with TAB/PSPB to put into place annual R&D funding mechanism for investing into IEEE Xplore research services to help users find the “right information.”

As TAB Periodicals Packages Committee Chair led development and adoption (nearly unanimous vote by TAB) of a performance related revenue distribution for periodicals rewarding most read content. Served as model for modification of Conference Pub revenue distribution algorithm.

Chaired and led development of a data driven IEEE Reserves Policy adopted by the IEEE BoD. For the first time the IEEE has a Reserves Policy based on need versus an arbitrary number.

Committees/Boards:

• TAB 2002, 2005-06, 2009-11
• TAB Treasurer 2009-11
• TAB Management Committee 2005, 2009-11
• TAB/PSPB Products & Services 2002-06, Chair 2005-06
• PSPB 2005-08
• PSPB Finance Chair 2007-08
• IEEE FinCom 2007-11
• IEEE Investment Committee 2010-11
• IEEE Marketing & Sales Committee 2006
• IEEE New Initiatives Committee 2008
• IEEE Joseph F. Keithley Award Committee in Instrumentation & Measurement, IEEE Technical Field Award – 2005-08

Section/Chapter:

• Redwood Empire IEEE Subsection, Co-Founder 1982, Chair 1984, Program Chair

Student Branch:

• Georgia Tech Student Chapter, Vice-Chair 1970-71

Society:

• MTT-S ADCOM 1994–2005
• MTT-S President 2002, Vice President 2001, Treasurer 1998–2000
• Multiple committee chair roles – Membership Development, Membership Services Operations, Long Range Planning, Conferences, …
• T-MTT & L-MWC Reviewer 1986-present

Conferences:

• IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS) 2006 General Chair
• IEEE MTT-S Radio & Wireless Symposium (RWS) 2012 General Chair
• IEEE MTT-S RWS2011 TPC Chair
• IEEE MTT-S IMS TPC 1990-2001, 2008-present

 

Statement

TAB and the Societies & Councils play a key role within the IEEE providing the means for technical interchange. We have been successful in creating and supporting vibrant technical communities. However there are challenges and opportunities we need to address to continue our success.

It is getting tougher for our volunteers to get the time to participate. They need the tools and resources to leverage their efforts and remove roadblocks. Attracting and motivating new members to be active volunteers is key.

The IEEE is increasing its worldwide involvement but this brings new issues in how to meet, network and communicate. We’ll need to improve the experience with better use of internet collaboration, expanded virtual attendance options and innovative use of social networks.

IEEE Publications are THE leading research journals with excellent citation rates. But, for many from industry (including myself), our publications fall short in “practical” application information. We need to “mine” and make more available material from conferences, encourage more practical content in publications and seek new sources of material.

I have found my IEEE involvement to have been personally very rewarding. I look forward to continuing to serve while being a part of an ever more successful IEEE.
 

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Robert E. Hebner, Jr.

ROBERT E. HEBNER, JR.
(Nominated by IEEE Technical Activities)

Director
Center for Electromechanics
University of Texas – Austin
Austin, Texas, USA
http://roberthebner.com

Bob Hebner is Director of the Center for Electromechanics at the University of Texas, Austin. With industrial partners, the Center develops technology, primarily novel motors, generators, hybrid vehicles, and energy storage. His personal research interests are in electrically enhanced biofuel production and microgrids.

Previously, he was the acting Director of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. In addition, he directed NIST’s Electronic and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, a laboratory with a staff of more than 250. He also worked at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Office of Management and Budget and at Sandia National Laboratory. He was a founding Director of the start-up company OpenAlgae.

Dr. Hebner has authored or coauthored more than one hundred technical papers and reports. He has extensive experience in international technology programs. This work included the modernization of the measurement systems needed to support global trade and assessing government technology programs.

 

IEEE Accomplishments and Activities
(S’70-M’71-SM’83-F’93)

A major IEEE accomplishment was to help in making the IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (DEIS) a strong society through such activities as nurturing the initiation and growth of its magazine, initiating its formal and funded student outreach, and strengthening its management and finances. Fortunately, we accomplished this while advocating for changes in the Technical Activities Board (TAB) economics that, while costly for the DEIS, were the right thing for the IEEE. As chair of the Audit Committee advocated a streamlined procedure for achieving compliance in each country in which the IEEE operates that was adopted by the Board of Directors. Received the IEEE Harry Diamond Award for contributions to standards for the electric utility industry.

Committees/Boards:
IEEE Fellow Committee, 1998-2002; Fortescue Sub-Committee, Member, 1987; Transnational Committee, Member, 2007; TAB Strategic Planning Committee, 2008-10; IEEE Board of Directors, 2009-10; IEEE Audit Committee, Chair, 2010; IEEE Governance Committee, 2010-11; Ad Hoc Committee on Board Reorganization, 2009-10; Ad Hoc Committee on TAB Structure, 2010-11; TAB Future Directions Committee, Chair, 2011.

Societies:
Industrial Applications Society (APS), Member, 2003-05; Instrumentation and Measurement Society (IMS), Member, 1976-82; Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (DEIS): Past President, 2007, 1993; President, 2005-06, 1991-92; Administrative Vice President, 1989-91; Technical Vice President, 1987-89; Education Committee, Member, 1983-95; IEEE Task Force on Varistors and Avalanche Diode Protective Devices, Secretary, 1978; IEEE Task Force on Varistors and Avalanche Diode Protective Devices, Member, 1977-78.

Conferences:
IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Conference, Special Session Organizer, 1999; IEEE International Symposium on Electrical Insulation, Local Arrangements Chair, 1986; IEEE Electric Ship Technologies Symposium, Co-chair, 2005; IEEE Electric Ship Technologies Symposium, Chair, 2007.

 

Statement

Since TAB is such an important part of the IEEE family, the first duty incumbent upon the TAB leadership is to do no harm. In that sense, the following activities are important:

• Continue to minimize internal impediments and maximize incentives for Societies and Councils to preserve and, where appropriate, expand conferences and publications.
• Preserve the autonomy and diversity that are strengths of TAB because Societies and Councils serve different technical communities around the globe.

In addition, there are three goals I would address during my term:

• Empower Societies and Councils to focus on activities that are important to members but are outside of the areas of traditional conferences and publications. A point of emphasis should be providing important activities for the industrial members of our Societies. The IEEE business model forces too much TAB attention on revenue.
• Improve at celebrating TAB’s successes. TAB meetings focus on resolving conflicts but do little to foster collaboration. This balance must be changed.
• Change TAB from a meeting presidents attend to protect their Societies and Councils from TAB to a community that is excited about fostering and expanding IEEE’s technical activities.

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