Oral-History: Elden, WL; IEEE's Engineers and Technologists Must Have Their Own Professional Engineering Society
WITH THE NY SUPREME COURT RULING ALLOWING BUSINESS MEMBERS OF THE 1912 AIEE TO SERVE ON ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS PLUS NEW INDUSTRY EXEMPTION LAWS, AIEE ENGINEER MEMBERS LOST THEIR INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL STANDING TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC
SUMMARY
The first Founding “Hands-On Engineer Professionals” got off to a promising start in1884 when the American Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, known as the AIEE, became incorporated and began business as America’s first self-run Professional Engineers Society. By 1912, the constrained allowed “Business Members”, whom wanted a more active managing role, filed a lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court and won a Business favored decision, which changed the AIEE from its initial “Professionals’ Members” run AIEE to its succeeding “Business Members” run IEEE of today. Coincidently, in 1912 the AIEE adopted its first Code of Ethics.
This remained in place til 1963 when the Institute of Radio Engineers, the IRE, fell in line and together with the AIEE together formed today’s Institute of Electrical and Electronics. (A footnote here is called for; at that time, 1963, I had earned my Bachelors’ Degree in Electronics Engineering, with HONORS, 5 years and my MSEE degree, 2 years earlier and was employed in industry).
Up until the merger, AIEE and IRE focused on only Technical, but no Professional matters, except that the 1912 a Code of Ethics, that was established by the AIEE, but not the IRE, it was believed, that same year. Neither Society officially focused on Professional or active Ethical matters; instead, only Technical Business was allowed.
However, in 1950 the earlier AIEE Ethics Code was revised to bring it into compliance with the Ethics Canons of the ECPD. Full Member Conduct and Ethics Advice/Support was authorized to be provided when the Member Conduct Committee was established by the IEEE Board of Directors in cooperation with the United Stated Activities Board but Ethics Advice and Support were not Board approved until 2015, then again suspended it in 1998, even with a Board own originated Blue Ribbon Ethics Advisory Committee recommending not to cease operating an Ethics Committee. Ethics Advice and Support were resumed again in 2022.
INTRODUCTION
The Professionally Run initial AIEE “Society of 1884-1912”, was Transformed into a “Business Run AIEE Institute of today, 1912-2023” by way of a Business Members’ New York Court Lawsuit.
AUDIO - INTRODUCTION #1 OF 2
https://www.dropbox.com/s/z72jai4oks3665k/INTRODUCTION%20by%20Walter%20Elden.mp3
AUDIO – INTRODUCTION #2 OF 2
REFERENCES - WRITTEN ARTICLES SUPPORTING AUDIO TALKS
§ 1.5.2 The BART Ethics and Safety Case and IEEE's Amicus Curiae Legal Brief
§ 1.5.5 Professional Engineer Licensure and the Industry Exemption
§ 1.5.6.1 P.E. Licensure Exemption of Engineers Working in Industry, Product and System Safety
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are shown next.
1.2 A TOTAL ENGINEER EQUALS THE SUM OF HIS/HER TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
o 1.3 THE PROFESSIONAL STANDING OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IN THE AIEE AS SEEN IN 1906
§ 1.4.1 Impact of the Revolt of AIEE's "Founding Professional Engineers"
§ 1.4.2 Business Interests' Takeover of the AIEE from its "Founding Professional Engineers"
§ 1.4.4 IEEE's (AIEE's) First Code of Ethics in 1912
§ 1.4.4.2 In the Late 1990's, The IEEE Withdrew Its Support of Ethical Engineers
§ 1.4.4.4 My Early Activities in the AIEE and IRE, the Founding Societies of Today's IEEE
§ 1.4.4.5 During My Earliest Years I Was a Systems and a Product Design Engineer
§ 1.4.4.6 HICAT-High Altitude Clear Air Turbulence Research Data Acquisition System
§ 1.4.4.6.1 A Joint US Air Force/Lockheed Aircraft/Dynatronics Team Effort
§ 1.4.4.7 My Transition from a Product to a System Engineer
o 1.5 MY INCREASED INTEREST IN PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS
§ 1.5.1 Impact on My Professional Conscience
§ 1.5.2 The BART Ethics and Safety Case and IEEE's Amicus Curiae Legal Brief
§ 1.5.2.1 IEEE Ethical Support and Amicus Curiae Policies
§ 1.5.3 Constitutional Change Adding Professional Activities, IEEE USA Formed
§ 1.5.4.1 IEEE's First Professional Activities Session at Region 3 SOUTHEASTCON
§ 1.5.5 Professional Engineer Licensure and the Industry Exemption
§ 1.5.6 I Became Licensed as a Professional Engineer in Florida
§ 1.5.6.1 P.E. Licensure Exemption of Engineers Working in Industry, Product and System Safety
§ 1.5.7 My Professional Activities Became an Increased Obstacle for My Employer
§ 1.5.7.1 Awarded IEEE Orlando Section Professional Engineer of the Year
§ 1.5.7.2 Management Pressured Me Not to Present My 5 PAC Papers at IEEE SOUTHEASTCON 1974
§ 1.5.7.3 I Was Forced to Resign "Under Coercion" for my Professional Activities
§ 1.5.7.4 The Transitioning of My Career After Being Terminated
§ 1.5.7.5 My Networking Standards Work with Dr. Vinton Cerf, the Co-Founder of the Internet
o 1.6 The IEEE Member Conduct Committee for Ethical Discipline and Support 1978
§ 1.6.1 Formation of IEEE's Member Conduct Committee, the MCC in 1978
§ 1.6.1.2 The IEEE SSIT Carl Barus Award for for Outstanding Service in the Public Interest
§ 1.6.1.2.1 Creation of the First MCC and Ethics WEB Pages
§ 1.6.1.2.3 An Ethics Conflict Resolution Service ECRS Proposal
§ 1.6.1.2.4 A Disturbing Viewpoint Was Expressed by the Former IEEE President MCC Member
§ 1.6.1.3 My MCC Liaison with the IEEE Ethics Committee
§ 1.6.1.4 Archived Bi-Monthly Ethics Articles Published in IEEE's The INSTITUTE
§ 1.6.1.4.2 Doing the Right Thing
§ 1.6.2 My Involvement in other IEEE Professional Activities
§ 1.6.2.1 My Experience Serving on the IEEE USA Employment Guidelines Committee
§ 1.6.2.2 My Contribution to IEEE USA Salary Survey Committee
§ 1.6.2.3 Awarded the 1998 IEEE USA Citation of Honor
§ 1.6.2.4 Rights and Responsibilities of Engineers Working in Industry
§ 1.6.2.5 An Alternative Proposal to Having to "Blow the Whistle" in Ethical Dispute Matters
