IEEE Fellow Elevation Process


IEEE Fellow is a distinction reserved for select IEEE members whose extraordinary accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest are deemed fitting of this prestigious grade elevation. IEEE Region 8 is keen on increasing the number of IEEE Fellow nominations and encourages Senior or Life Senior Members to examine the elevation process and pre-requisites available at IEEE Fellow Program Website.

 

Towards the goal of increasing the number of nominations for IEEE Fellow status, IEEE Region 8 has formed a dedicated Ad-hoc committee Fellow Members Search, currently chaired by Maria Teresa Correia de Barros (contact). The Ad-hoc has coordinated with Dr. Don Tan, Chair of the IEEE Fellow Committee 2023-2024, to organize an online presentation on the IEEE Fellow program process and best practices entitled “Towards the Fellow Grade”. It was held on 1-Dec-2023 and attended by nearly 160 participants, with a long Q&A part at the end. You can find the video and corresponding slides below, together with topic abstract and speaker’s biography.

Slides from the IEEE Fellow elevation process presentation are available here:

Slides – Don Tan – Towards the Fellow Grade

When these slides are used for presentations, please give credit to the IEEE Fellow Committee and Dr. Don Tan, IEEE Fellow Committee Chair 2023-2024, for having them prepared and made available.

Video on IEEE Fellow elevation process available here:

Video Recording – Don Tan – Towards the Fellow Grade

 

 

 

Abstract: IEEE fellow grade is a prestigious recognition by the Institute to a single individual for his or her technical accomplishments in impacting society at large. It is highly sought-after across the globe. How do you answer the question then: Am I qualified to be considered for an IEEE fellow? What is the best way to prepare a nomination package? This talk by Dr. Don Tan will provide a unique perspective from an IEEE Fellow Committee Chair’s viewpoint. It tries to demystify the fellow nomination and evaluation process. This is part of a continued effort to help increase the nomination pool size each year, particularly from underrepresented geographic areas, such as Region 9, African Council, Eastern Europe, Pacific Inlanders, etc. and underrepresented technical disciplines, such as industry, standards, education, etc. Topics include: 1) IEEE membership grades, 2) Relevant membership statistics, 3) Find a mentor/sponsor, 4) Judging yourself, 5) Importance of your nomination package, and 6) Reference resources.

 

Biography: Dr. Tan is with NGSS, where he served to executive level as Distinguished Engineer, Fellow, Chief Engineer-Power Conversion, program manager, department manager, and center director (acting). Don earned his PhD from Caltech and is an IEEE fellow. Well-recognized as a visionary leader in ultra-efficient power conversion and electronic energy systems, he has pioneered breakthrough innovations with high impact industry firsts and record performances that “significantly enhance our national security.” Recent launch of JWST Space Telescope represents human’s most power telescope for a historical mission. His suite of the world-class electronics performed flawlessly for JWST on orbit, one million miles sway, with record-breaking performances.

Don has delivered 70+ keynotes/invited global presentations. He is, among others, Chair, IEEE Fellow Committee, IEEE Board of Directors, Vice Chair, Industry Engagement Committee and Immediate Past Steering Committee Chair, IEEE PELS/PES eGrid. He was Director, IEEE Board of Directors, PELS Long Range Planning Committee Chair, Nomination Committee Chair, PELS President, Editor-in-Chief (Founding) for IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, General Conference Chair for APEC, Vice President-Operations, Guest Editor-in-Chief for IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics and IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, Fellow Committee, Vice President-Meetings, IEEE Chair for IEEE/Google Little Box Challenge (awarded $1M cash prize), and IEEE/DoD Working Group Chair, developed IEEE/ANSI stds 1515/1573. He also serves on many national and international award, review and selection committees.