A case study [Leader´s Corner]

Past "leader\´s corner" columns have well-chronicled the ongoing need for new engineers in the power industry. Many experienced power engineers have already retired, and this exodus is expected to continue for the next fi ve to ten years. This shortage of new engineers will not only impact power industry employers but will also greatly impact the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES). Once new engineers enter the power industry, it is essential that we, the members of PES, get this new generation involved. Over the last several years, PES leadership consisting of President Wanda Reder, Past-President John McDonald, VP of Technical Activities Paula Traynor, and I have made an effort to meet with as many technical committees (TCs) as possible. One clear message of concern is the dwindling number of new engineers involved in the TCs in general and specifi cally in the writing of new standards and the affi rmation or revision of existing standards.