Oral-History:WALTER L ELDEN-IEEE'S ENGINEERS AND TECHNOLOGISTS NEED THEIR OWN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
IEEE’S ENGINEERS’ AND TECHNOLOGISTS’ PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS, NEED THEIR OWNː “SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND TECHNOLOGISTS-THE SPET”; AND "MUST REMAIN FREE OF BUSINESS MEMBERS' CONTROL ǃǃǃ"
OBITUARY OF DR STEPHEN H UNGER
DR STEVE UNGER PASSED AWAY ON THE "FOURTH OF JULY, 2023". A PAST PROFESSOR OF COMPUTER ELECTRONICS AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, HE DEVOTED 60 YEARS TO IEEE ETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM.
CO-CREATOR OF IEEE’S CSIT AND SSIT, WITH CSIT GETTING IEEE IN THE BART CASE, 1975, ETHICALLY SUPPORTING 3 ENGINEERS WITH AN HISTORIC IEEE AMICUS CURIE BRIEF; THEN HE LED A USAB TASK FORCE DEVELOP MEMBER DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES, 1978.
Steven H. Unger, PhD, was "The Father of IEEE Ethics", and my Ethics Mentor for over 65 years. My work herein is dedicated to his memory and the impact his prior work promoting ethics has/will have on the entire Engineering Profession.
### Steve passed on the "4th of JULY, 2023"-RIP ###
READ A SAMPLE OF UNGER'S ACTION WRITINGSː
1. IEEE'S Curtailment of Its Ethics and Ethical Support Activities
a. The Case of the Vanishing Ethics Article
b. The Assault on IEEE Ethics Support
THESIS OF THIS PRESENTATION
POST-1912 AIEE, IRE AND 1963 IEEE SOCIETIES, LED BY THEIR BUSINESS MEMBERS, HAVE SUBJUGATED THEIR MEMBERS’ PROFESSIONALISM AND CONSTRAINED ETHICAL PRACTICES TO BUSINESS DOMINATED GOALS AND ACTIVITIES; THEREFORE, POST-1963 IEEE PROFESSIONALS MUST HAVE THEIR OWN ORGANIZATION, FREE OF BUSINESS DOMINATION.
ONE EXAMPLE IS THAT HOPEFULLY A "NEW BOARD WOULD NOT VIOLATE IEEE'S BYLAWS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES" BY REFUSING TO IMPLEMENT BY-LAW APPROVED "ETHICS ADVICE AND SUPPORT" FOR THE MEMBERS
OVERVIEW
WHEN THE 1912 NY SUPREME COURT RULED, ALLOWING BUSINESS MEMBERS OF THE AIEE TO BEGIN SERVING ON ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AIEE-IEEE ENGINEER & TECHNOLOGIST MEMBERS, THEN AND THROUGH THE SUCEEDING 111 YEARS LOST THEIR INDEPENDENT “PROFESSIONAL” STATUS AND IN PLACE, UP TO AND INCLUDING 2023, THEN BELONGED TO A BUSINESS DOMINATED TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, HAVING LOST WHAT THE 1884-1912 ENGINEERING AIEE SOCIETY FOREFATHER PROFESSIONALS, NOT BUSINESS LEADERS HAD CREATED.
GUEST COMMENTS-FROM Judge Paul M. Spinden; Professor, Judge, Author, (434) 592-5300
"The Enigma of Engineering’s Industrial PE Exemption: The Exception that Swallowed A Profession”
“While serving in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, Judge Spinden headed prosecution of the structural engineers held to be responsible for the worst building failure in United States history, the collapse of the Kansas City Hyatt Regency atrium walkways on July 17, 1981, in which 114 persons were killed”.
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The Following is Quoted from I. Introduction (Spinden)
(1) engineers working under the supervision of a licensed engineer who takes responsibility for the unlicensed engineer’s work;
(2) engineers employed by public utilities;
(3) engineers employed by the federal government;
(4) engineers employed by a state government; and
(5) “in-house” engineers employed by a manufacturing or other business firm (known as the “industrial exemption”).14
The policy underlying these exemptions, especially the industrial exemption, is perplexing. It begs the question of how an engineer’s working for an industrial firm protects the public and makes licensing unnecessary. No state exempts a lawyer or physician from licensure simply because he or she is employed by the government or a corporation. How does a state justify requiring a florist to have a license, no matter where he or she works,15 but does not require an engineer, whose negligence can kill,16 to obtain a license simply because he or she works for an industrial firm?”
As incompatible with protecting the public as the industrial exemption seems to be, the courts have made clear that the states are free to persist in such policies. In such matters as licensing, the states have virtually unfettered discretion. The United States Supreme Court has declared that regulatory licensing is one the government’s strongest powers to be wielded as it deems necessary for protecting society.17
Even if the policy of the exemptions does not violate due process rights, it is difficult to defend as good government. Indeed, the exemptions raise suspicions that their enactment had more to do with politics—protecting the private interests of industrial firms and others—than with good government.18 Unlike any other profession, engineering has always been dominated by large industrial interests, which often have much political power.19 Although engineers provided the genius and ingenuity for America’s industrialization, they did so as employees of business entities and entrepreneurs. Little has changed. As Edwin Layton observed, engineering has always involved an attempt—with mixed success—to blend science and business. “[T]he test of an engineer’s work,” he said, “lies not in the laboratory, but in the marketplace.”20 Engineers’ success has always been tied to industry’s success,21 and today the overwhelming majority of engineers—as many as ninety percent22—work for large manufacturing businesses, exempting them from licensure in states recognizing an industrial exemption.23
This article (Spinden) probes the soundness of the policy underlying the industrial exemption. It concludes that, although emergence of the exemption was a natural consequence of engineering’s close alliance from the very start with big business, the exemption has thwarted engineering’s development as a bona fide profession. It also concludes that only with elimination or a significant reengineering of the exemption can the profession truly expect to attain profession status. Such a rethinking about the exemption will come only with a major change in attitude by engineering practitioners as to what it means to be an engineer.”
-End of SPINDEN Quotes-
THE EVOLUTION FROM THE AIEE AND IRE, TO IEEE TODAYǃǃǃ - EDITOR ELDEN
AIEE; IRE; THEN THE IEEE (1884 - 2023)
The first “Founding Hands-On Engineer Professionals” got off to a promising start in 1884 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; WITH THEIR OWN LEGALLY APPROVED CONSTITUTION, BY-lAWS, POLICIES AND P.ROCEDURES
But Business level members by 1912, having been restricted from serving on its Board, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT QUALIFY AS PRACTICING ENGINEER PROFESSIONALS, filed a lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court and won a “Business Members” favored decision, which changed the AIEE from its initial “Professionals’ Members” run AIEE to its succeeding “Business Members” run AIEE, leading to today’s IEEE, with its succeeding member Engineers. Coincidently, in 1912 the AIEE adopted its first Code of Ethics but thereafter only delved in Technical Activities until 1973, along with the separate IRE, when IEEE modified its 10 year old Constitution and added Professional Activities for Ethics (Discipline, Advice and Support). But its Board(s) of Directors only authorized Ethical Advice and Support for 1995-98, denying it for approximately 50 years, 1978-95 then 1998-2022, without any explanation OR TO INFORM THE MEMBERS OF THAT ACTION AS IT WAS NOT AUTHORIZED BY THE NEW IEEE 1973 CONSTITUTION.
This 1950 updated ETHICS CODE remained in place until 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 Engineers, IEEE, and was restricted to indulge only in Technical Activities, completing the changing from the original AIEE Professionals.
Up until that merger, FROM 1912-1963 AIEE and IRE focused only on Technical, but no Professional matters, except that the 1912 Code of Ethics, established by the AIEE, but was not adopted by the Technical only IRE it was believed. Neither Society officially focused on Professional or active Ethical matters; instead, only Technical Business was allowed til 1973 with the amending of IEEE’s Constitution adding Professional Activities for the first time since the AIEE of 1912.
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, but for only 3 years, until 1998, when all Ethics Advice and Support Activities and Ethical Activities were terminated again. Ethics Advice and Support were resumed again in 2022. During all of the time from 1978, when the Board first approved a Member Conduct Committee, until 2023, IEEE only provided Ethics Advice and Support for 3 years; 1995-1998 whereas the Board preferred Member Discipline was in effect since 1978 and over those 50 some years, no Ethical Advice and Support were provided except for Virginia Edgerton in 1978-79 and to Castro 1998-99, it is believed.
During the 40 years Ethical Advice and Ethical Support were not allowed to Engineer and Technologist members, can IEEE be viewed as having been a full Professional Society during that period? I CANNOT AGREE TO A 'YES'. (Editor)
AUDIO AND TEXT PRESENTATIONS TO FOLLOW
The following presentations, make use of a family of audio recorded remarks. Following that are text and reference links presented for giving more in-depth reading and study. These audios had been recorded in prior few years as part of the speaker’s volunteered work as the founder and ongoing Editor Emeritus of the “IEEE Ethics History Repository”, the IEHR; today they are in Parts 1,2 and 3.
For use here, the editor spent considerable time reviewing and bringing those audios up to date, greatly delaying the completion of the work herein. At this time only the introduction audios are being released, ALONG WITH A FEW NEEDED TO ILLUSTRATE IN GREATER DETAIL ABOUT REAL SITUATIONS. Thank you for your patience. Others will be released later.
AUDIO RECORDED DISCUSSIONS BY WALTER ELDEN
̇NOTICEː TO LISTEN TO AUDIO, SELECT "CONTROL & CLICK" ON EACH LINK
AUDIO A - INTRODUCTION PART #1
AUDIO B - INTRODUCTION PART #2
AUDIO C - INTRODUCTION PART #3
AUDIO D - INTRODUCTION PART #4
- Should IEEE Remain in Control by Business Members or Engineers-Technologists???
C:\Users\13868.000\Dropbox\Crane Lakes HOA\CTEP Proposal COMM TECH ENG PROF\AUDIO Recordings\IEEE Has Been Controlled by Business Members, Not Engineers.mp3
AUDIO #2 – Why IEEE Members Need Ethics Advice and Ethical Support Services Implemented.
First-HandːWhy IEEE Members Need Ethics Advice and Ethical Support-Walter Elden - Engineering and Technology History Wiki (ethw.org)
IEEE Ethics: When Advice and Support Went Dark - IEEE Spectrum
IEEE Ethics: When Advice and Support Went Dark - IEEE Spectrum
AUDIO #3 – Should exempted engineers in industry be expected to protect the public when they themselves are left unprotected?
AUDIO #4– An IEEE Contract Agreement Exists to Provide Ethics Advice/Support to Members
W/images/a/a2/A1 ARGUMENT THAT A CONTRACT AGREEMENT EXISTS FOR ADVICE AND SUPPORT TO MEMBERS.mp3
ethw.org/w/images/a/a2/A1_ARGUMENT_THAT_A_CONTRACT_AGREEMENT_EXISTS_FOR_ADVICE_AND_SUPPORT_TO_MEMBERS.mp3
AUDIO – Equal Protection Under the 14th US Constitutional Amendment is Needed for Professionals
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lau3g1xff8o98srk2hxuf/Equal-Protection-of-PEs-Under-14th-Amendment.mp3?rlkey =eomz2r5y2cya67fb5yhx644wk&dl=0
AUDIO #5 - Laws Needing Ethical Support for Engineers and Technologies
C:\Users\13868.000\Dropbox\CTEP SAVED MP3 AUDIOS FOR BRIEFING IEEE JUNE 2023\AUDIOS FOR JULY CTEP MAILING
AUDIO #7 - ADDED AUDIO #11- IMPORTANT "NON-WIN, NON-WIN" ETHICS Cases; NASA, VW,
AUDIO #9 –
AUDIO #10 - Achieving a WIN-WIN Outcome in a Dispute
C:\Users\13868.000\Dropbox\PC (3)\Downloads\How Internal Ethics Advice and Support Achieved a WIN-WIN Outcome in an Employee Employer Dispute.docx
AUDIO #11 –
AUDIO #
Jump to:navigation, search
Contents
o 1.1 Walter Elden is an advocate for ethics advice and support programs for members
§ 1.1.1 QUESTION 1. Tell me about your engineering career.
§ 1.1.1.1 DROPBOX Link of the Expanded Recorded Audio Made by Walter Elden:
§ 1.1.3 QUESTION 2. What inspired you to pursue engineering?
§ 1.1.4 QUESTION 3. Why did you join IEEE and why do you continue to volunteer for the organization?
§ 1.1.5 QUESTION 4. What led you to take up the cause of professional ethics?
§ 1.1.6 QUESTION 5. Why are you
§ so passionate about making sure IEEE addresses ethics advice and ethical support for its members?
§ 1.1.7 QUESTION 6. Why is it important for IEEE to offer these services to members?
§ 1.1.10 QUESTION 9. Why should young professionals care about professional ethics?
§ 1.1.12 11. ADDED Audio - 3 (NON WIN-NON WIN) Cases; NASA, VW, Boeing
§ 1.1.13 12. Interview ADDED Audio - A Mixed Assortment of Topics Which I Later Remembered
Kathy Pretz, Chief Editor of IEEE’s INSTITUTE, conducted a raw interview of IEEE Life Senior Member Walter L. Elden, P.E. (RET) on April 23, 2021 to prepare for a June 2021 article in SPECTRUM/Institute. The subject matter focused on his views and past experiences in Professionalism and Ethics.[edit | edit source]
INTRODUCTION
AUDIO – PREAMBLE
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qmvz3xi9i4v2mpou6ltxq/A-CONTRACT-AGREEMENT-EXISTS-FOR-IEEE-ETHICS-ADVICE-AND-SUPPORT-TO-ITS-MEMBERS-Shortcut-4.lnk?rlkey=e9bouktzr9qm1pas4zqigfzpz&dl=0
INTRODUCTION by Walter Elden.mp3 (dropbox.com)
AUDIO – INTRODUCTION #1 OF 3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/z72jai4oks3665k/INTRODUCTION%20by%20Walter%20Elden.mp3
AUDIO – INTRODUCTION #2 OF 3
AUDIO – INTRODUCTION #3 OF 3
ALL TEXT FOLLOWS AND ARE NOT AUDIO
TEXT #7 -
WRITTEN ARTICLES SUPPORTING AUDIO TALKS
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§ 1.5.2 The BART Ethics and Safety Case and IEEE's Amicus Curiae Legal Brief
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§ 1.5.5 Professional Engineer Licensure and the Industry Exemption
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§ 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
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o
§ 1.4.1 Impact of the Revolt of AIEE's "Founding Professional Engineers"
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§ 1.4.2 Business Interests' Takeover of the AIEE from its "Founding Professional Engineers"
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§ 1.4.4 IEEE's (AIEE's) First Code of Ethics in 1912
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§ 1.4.4.2 In the Late 1990's, The IEEE Withdrew Its Support of Ethical Engineers
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§ 1.4.4.4 My Early Activities in the AIEE and IRE, the Founding Societies of Today's IEEE
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§ 1.4.4.5 During My Earliest Years I Was a Systems and a Product Design Engineer
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§ 1.4.4.6 HICAT-High Altitude Clear Air Turbulence Research Data Acquisition System
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§ 1.4.4.6.1 A Joint US Air Force/Lockheed Aircraft/Dynatronics Team Effort
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§ 1.4.4.7 My Transition from a Product to a System Engineer
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o 1.5 MY INCREASED INTEREST IN PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS
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§ 1.5.1 Impact on My Professional Conscience
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§ 1.5.2 The BART Ethics and Safety Case and IEEE's Amicus Curiae Legal Brief
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§ 1.5.2.1 IEEE Ethical Support and Amicus Curiae Policies
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§ 1.5.3 Constitutional Change Adding Professional Activities, IEEE USA Formed
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§ 1.5.4.1 IEEE's First Professional Activities Session at Region 3 SOUTHEASTCON
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§ 1.5.5 Professional Engineer Licensure and the Industry Exemption
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§ 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
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§ 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
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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
AUDIO #1- INTRODUCTION
THE IEEE HAS NOT EXISTED AS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SOCIETY SINCE THE 1912 TAKEOVER APPROVED BY A BUSINESS FAVORED NEW YORK SUPREME COURT DECISION
