2022-2023 Director-Elect Candidate Night
Ali Abedi received his Ph.D. in Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) from University of Waterloo in 2004. He joined the University of Maine in 2005 where he is currently Associate Vice President for Research, and Professor of ECE with joint appointment at School of Computing and Information Sciences. His research includes wireless sensing for aerospace and biomedical applications resulting in 54 funded projects with total expenditure of over $34M. Dr. Abedi was a Guest Researcher at National Institute of Standards & Technology, and visiting Associate Professor at University of Maryland – College Park in 2012, and faculty fellow at NASA MSFC in Huntsville, AL in 2016. Dr. Abedi is Co-founder of Activas-Diagnostics, author of over 115 journal and conference publications including 6 books and 2 awarded patents with over 44000 downloads. He received a number of awards and recognitions from NSERC, JSPS, CSA, IEEE, and NASA.
IEEE Accomplishments and Activities
(S’98-M’04-SM’07)
Accomplishments:
- Founded a local technical chapter, built succession, and sustained the local technical activities in the past 16 years with latest event (Fall AI series) attracted 1200+ registrations.
- Founded an IEEE International Conference, Wireless for Space and Extreme Environments (2013); grew conference with 248+ attendees with participation from international space agencies (NASA, CSA, ESA, JAXA), notable aerospace companies, and academics.
- Connected industry and IEEE by chairing the first IEEE Northeast Industry Day event which led into a series of similar events worldwide, bringing value to local industry members.
Activities:
Local: Maine Section: Secretary 06/15, Vice-Chair 07/16, Chair 08, HKN Faculty Advisor 18-21.
Regional: R1 PACE Chair 14-15, Chapters Coordinator 09-11, 18-19, Board of Governors 08-11, 18-20, Executive Committee 14-15, 20-21, Northeast Area Chair 20-21, Student Conference Chair 06, Paper Contest Chair 12, 17/18.
MGA: Committees/AdHoc: Geo Unit Operations Support 14-15, Center for Leadership Excellence 12-13, Volunteer Leadership Training (VOLT) Pilot 13, Member Benefits 12, AdHoc Conferences Committee 12.
Technical: Founding Chair Maine Communications/Computer Societies Joint Chapter ’05-07, 13-15, Vice-Chair 10-11, Treasurer/Webmaster 05-18, IEEE Council on RFID (CRFID) Wireless for Space and Extreme Environments (WiSEE) Committee Chair 17-21, IEEE Communications Society, North American Region Board Member 14-16.
Conferences: Founding General Chair, IEEE WiSEE’13 (Baltimore); IEEE Northeast Industry Day’10 (Portsmouth); IEEE Int’l Fly By Wireless’10 (Orono); Tutorials Co-Chair, IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference VTC’15 (Boston); PHY Track-Chair, IEEE PIMRC’14 Conference (Washington). Publications Chair, IEEE Globecom’14 (Austin); and IEEE WCNC’22 (Austin). Technical Program (TPC) Chair, IEEE WiSEE’21 (Cleveland), 2020 (Italy/Virtual), 2019 (Ottawa), 2018 (Huntsville), 2017 (Montreal), 2016 (Germany), 2015 (Orlando), 2014 (Netherlands); TPC member of numerous IEEE conferences TPC member.
Journals: Associate Editor: IEEE RFID Journal (2016-Present); IEEE/KICS Journal of Communications and Networks – JCN (2013-present). Guest Editor: IEEE Sensors Journal Special Issue (2013-14); Guest EiC JCN Special Issue on Cognitive Networking (2013-14).
Statement
As your next director, my focus will be on members in industry, academia, government, and NGOs. The future of our profession is undergoing significant changes as cyber security, artificial intelligence, and online collaboration become mainstream issues for our society. Jobs of the future are changing and members’ needs are shifting. It is much easier to collaborate across the globe today than it was a decade ago. With information overload, IEEE can play an important role in curating accurate information based on sound scientific and ethical principles to help our members remain at forefront of technology. IEEE members can lead the world, making it a better place to live, communicate and thrive. If given this opportunity to lead Region-1, and become a member of IEEE Board of Directors, I strive to make global impact while keeping local activities relevant to the local industry. I had a balanced career in industry and academia, served IEEE for over two decades at both regional and technical capacities, and believe I have the experience to move Region-1 and IEEE forward.
Senior IT Manager/Executive (Retired)
AT&T and IBM
Holmdel, New Jersey, USA
With a rewarding and exhilarating career of over 35 years that began by joining the workforce during the nascence of the Information Technology revolution, I have architected, developed, managed, and supported several multi-million-dollar mission-critical software systems. I have taught computer science, information technology, and career management courses at various universities. I was mentored by some of the best and brightest in the industry throughout my career as college professor, principal technical staff member, and senior IT manager/executive at SUNY, Bell Labs, AT&T & IBM and consistently ranked high among peers for leadership, management, humanistic skills, and a record of results.
I am an IEEE Senior Member and have been a volunteer for over 25 years. I have served on the IEEE-USA Board of Directors, IEEE Region 1 ExCom and Board of Governors (present) and as New Jersey Coast Section Chair.
IEEE Accomplishments and Activities
IEEE Activities:
- IEEE- Region 1 EXCOM/BOG, Treasurer 2010-present (Audits, Timely Reimbursements, oversee Compliance of all region OUs)
- IEEE Member Benefits Committee Member 2020-21
- IEEE FINCOM Member 2016, 2017 (assessment increase for IEEE-USA)
- IEEE-USA Board Member – Secretary/Treasurer 2016 & 2017 (reappointed) (Strategy sessions for a new IEEE-USA, Budget)
- IEEE METSAC Vice Chair
- IEEE-USA PACE/SPAC National Speaker – (National & International, over 70 talks)
- IEEE Region 1 SPAC Coordinator
- IEEE NJ Coast Section – Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Awards Chair (present), Section rejuvenation
Awards/Recognitions:
- IEEE Third Millennium Award
- IEEE Region 1 Award
Publications:
- IEEE technical publications on Software Reliability Engineering
Statement
As IEEE Region 1 Treasurer, I provided unblemished and accurate reporting, supported audits, provided timely service to volunteers, and led and oversaw completion of region-level compliance by section/chapter treasurers. My time spent investigating, understanding, analyzing, and putting forth a moderate solution in several critical issues have made me a person to lean on by region leaders.
As IEEE-USA Secretary/Treasurer and FINCOM member, I was hands-on in learning and providing my input on financial matters from top-down perspective.
I consider it an honor and privilege to be nominated by region 1 leadership as candidate for Region Delegate/Director.
If elected, I would work closely to empower fellow volunteers in policy and practical matters to be able to deliver maximum benefits to membership, be diligent in overseeing how every dollar is received and spent, and build and broaden relationship with peer volunteer leaders and IEEE staff to implement what is best for Region 1.