2009 IEEE Annual Election Candidates - Technical Activities

THOMAS G. HABETLER
(Nominated by IEEE Technical Activities)

Professor
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~habetler/

Thomas G. Habetler (S’82-M’83-S’85-M’89-SM’92-F’02) received the B.S.E.E. degree in 1981 and the M.S. degree in 1984, both in electrical engineering, from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in 1989.               

From 1983-1985 he was employed by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors as a Project Engineer.  In 1985 he was awarded the General Motors Fellowship to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison.  He is currently a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.  His research interests are in electric machine protection, condition monitoring, and drives.  He has published over 175 technical papers in the field.  He is a regular consultant to industry in the field of condition-based diagnostics for electrical systems.  He was a visiting researcher at Rockwell Automation during the summer of 1998, and at the Eaton Corp. Innovation Center during the summers of 1999, 2000, and 2001.

IEEE Activities – (S’83-M’83-S’85-M’89-SM’92-F’02) OFFICE: Board of Directors, Division II Delegate/Director, 2007-08. COMMITTEES/BOARDS: IEEE Technical Co-Sponsorship AdHoc Committee, 2009.  TAB Society Review Committee, 2009.  IEEE Presentation and Policy Committee, 2009.  TAB Membership AdHoc Committee, Chair, 2008.  MGA Member Engagement and Life Cycle Committee, 2008-09.  Technical Activities Board, 2007-08, 2001-02. SOCIETIES: Power Electronics Society: Long-Range Planning Committee, Chair, 2004-06; President, 2001-02; Vice-President, 1999-2000; IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference (PESC), Conference Steering Committee, Chair, 1998-2009; Publications Committee, Chair, 1997-99; AdCom Member-at-Large, 1996-99; Secretary, 1994-95; Educational Activities Committee, 1995-97; Membership and Publicity Committee, Chair, 1990-93.  Industry Applications Society: Industrial Power Converter Committee, Chair, 2000-01; Industrial Power Converter Committee, Vice Chair, 1998-99; Electric Machines Committee, 1993-2005; Industrial Drives Committee, 1990-2005. CHAPTER: Power Electronics Society Atlanta Chapter: Chair, 1998-99; Secretary, 2004-05.  CONFERENCES: 2010 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE), General Chair, 2009.  IEEE Energy 2030 Conference, General Co-Chair, 2008.  The Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC), Finance Chair, 2005.  IEEE International Symposium on Diagnostics for Electric Machines, Power Electronics and Drives (SDEMPED): General Chair, 2003; Technical Program Committee, Co-Chair, 1997.  IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference (PESC): Steering Committee Chair, 1999-2000; Publicity Committee Chair, 1999, 1997; Technical Program Chair, 1995; Technical Program Committee, 1990-99.  Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting, Industrial Power Converter Committee, Technical Program Chair, 1998-99.  IEEE Industry Applications Society Workshop, “Future of Electronic Power Processing and Conversion”, Technical Program Committee Co-Chair, 1998, 1994, 1991.  IEEE International Conference on Harmonics in Power Systems (ICHPS), Treasurer, 1992, 1990. AWARDS: IEEE Fellow, 2002.  Four IAS Committee Prize Paper Awards. 

IEEE Accomplishments –

• Chair, TAB AdHoc Committee on Society Membership.  This committee is responsible for addressing the issue of declining society membership.  This has involved studies of society value propositions, and is formulating new products and services to attract members to Societies. 
• Served instrumental role in the proposed restructuring of Technical Co-Sponsorship of Conferences. 
• Member, MGA Member Engagement and Life Cycle Committee, 2008-2009.  As the first TAB rep to this committee, I feel I have brought the interests of TAB to bear on member development and engagement. 
• I was heavily involved in inter-society cooperation for a number of years between PELS, IAS, PES and IES.  We now have several large joint conferences, many joint chapters, joint memberships, joint awards and other cooperative activities.

Statement – Technical Activities represents not just an important economic engine for the IEEE, but more importantly, the technical face of the IEEE to our members and to society as a whole.  TAB is therefore much more than a “review and publish” organization.  TAB, through its societies and chapters plays a central and key role in “fostering technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity.” 

I feel that I am well qualified to lead Technical Activities through its upcoming opportunities and challenges.   Throughout my career in industry, academia and IEEE, I have always tried to build consensus through efficient and data-driven dialogue and teamwork.  I am a firm believer that well-run meetings result in well-made decisions.  Organized and efficient meeting leadership is crucial to maximizing TAB effectiveness. 

There are several important issues which TAB must address in the coming years. One of these is the result of changes from content-based to use-based algorithms in the distribution of publishing income among the societies.  Secondly, we must continue to address the role and importance of industry in our society activities.  Finally, the issue of society membership must remain a focus for TAB initiatives.  I intend to continue my efforts in this arena.

DONNA L. HUDSON
(Nominated by IEEE Technical Activities)

Director of Academic Research and Technology
University of California, San Francisco
Fresno, California, USA
http://fserve.fresno.ucsf.edu/faculty/dhudson/index.html

Donna Hudson received her Ph.D. from UCLA School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (1981) and has been on the Faculty of University of California since then.  She is currently Director of Academic Research and Technology at University of California, San Francisco, Professor of Clinical and Translational Informatics (UCSF) and Professor, Joint Graduate Group in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley/UCSF.  She is on the Executive Committees of Biological and Medical Informatics and CTI Graduate Groups at UCSF.  She is past-president of the International Society for Computers and Their Applications and Vice-President of the World Academy of Biotechnology.  Dr. Hudson has over 230 refereed publications in the areas of computer-assisted medical decision making, biosignal analysis, neural network modeling, telemedicine for home healthcare, and complex analysis of biomedical data applied to cardiology, neurology, and cancer diagnosis and prognosis.  She is an IEEE Fellow and Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

IEEE Activities – (M’82-SM’94-F’01) COMMITTEES/BOARDS: IEEE Technical Activities Board (TAB): Member, 2008-09; Finance Committee, 2009; IEEE UN Humanitarian Challenge Steering Committee, 2008-09; AdHoc TMC Review Committee, 2008; TAB Society President, 2007-08; TAB Periodicals Committee, 2008. Educational Activities Board (EAB): Accreditation Policy Board, Representative to BMES Council of Societies, 2008-09; Standards Education Committee, 2008. CHAPTER: EMBS San Francisco Chapter, Vice Chair, 2006-08. SOCIETY: Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS): Past President, 2009; President, 2007-08; President-Elect, 2006; Vice President for Financial Planning, 2003-05; Vice President for Publications and Technical Activities, 2001-02; Distinguished Lecturer Committee, Chair, 1999-2000; Administrative Committee, Member, 1998-2000; Strategic Planning AdHoc Committee, Chair, 2009, 2006; Information Technology in Biomedicine, Associate Editor, 2003; EMB Magazine, Associate Editor, 2002-03; Emerging Technologies in Biomedical Engineering, Editorial Board, 1995-2000. COUNCIL: Neural Networks Council, Administrative Committee, 1999-2002. CONFERENCES: IEEE-IBM Accessibility Conference, Technical Program Chair, 2009. EMBS Annual International Conference, Conference Editorial Board, 2008-09. IEEE EMBS Annual International Meeting, General Conference Chair, 2004. REPRESENTATIVE: BMES Council of Cooperating Societies, 2008-09. AWARD: IEEE Fellow, 2001.

IEEE Accomplishments – 

As President of EMBS

• Societal Cooperation
  • Introduction of the Special Interest Group (SIG) to promote cooperation among IEEE Societies on projects of common interests in technology related to healthcare
  • Integration of the Biotechnology Council into the Special Interest Group (SIG)
• Conferences
  • Standardization of the Annual IEEE EMBS Conference to improve quality through the introduction of a conference editorial board to handle paper review
  • Design of a Conference Organizers Handbook to simplify the organization process for volunteers, maintain consistent quality, and preserve institutional memory
• Establishment of IEEE Medal for Innovations in Healthcare Technology

As Vice President for Financial Planning/President, EMBS

• Financial Recovery of EMBS (US$250K surplus in 2002, US$4.5M surplus in 2007)

As Vice President for Publications, EMBS

• Resolved editorial issues for two publications with improved results in both publications

As Conference Chair, IEEE EMBS 26^th Annual Conference, 2004

• Largest attendance at a non-co-sponsored EMBS conference and the largest surplus to that date

Statement – TAB plays a vital role within IEEE as the oversight body for publications, conferences, and other technical activities that represent important services for IEEE members.  As TAB comprises the Presidents of all IEEE Societies and Councils, decisions are often complex, as societal and council interests do not always completely correspond with IEEE interests.  While it is the responsibility of TAB to make decisions in the interest of IEEE, it is also important to maintain a collegial atmosphere where each society feels comfortable bringing forth issues of concern.

In this time of financial turmoil, in which the IEEE has been affected in the same way as society in general, decisions in planning future activities, including publications and conferences, become more difficult.  While financial matters must be considered, it is also necessary to take a long-range look at the future and the position of IEEE.

IEEE must remain at the cutting edge of technology.  Proposals for new publications must be considered based on their technical merit.  Potential profitability is a factor, but should not be the only factor.  In terms of conference planning, conference organizers should take special care with budgeting and projections for attendance.  Decisions made now will have long-term impact.