H. Alan Mantooth, Division II Director
I find that the IEEE organizational structure is often misunderstood or not well-known to many of its members and volunteers. Perhaps this spotlight on Division II will clarify some of that and highlight some of the great work our volunteers are doing.
Of course, the IEEE website offers a more comprehensive overview of the organization, but briefly, the IEEE is governed by the Board of Directors. This board consists of the three IEEE Presidents (President-Elect, President, and Past-President), the Vice Presidents and Presidents of the six major boards, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the ten Region Directors, and the ten Division Directors. These 31 members meet several times a year to conduct the organization’s corporate-level business. The globe is divided into 10 regions, each with its own director. The numerous technical societies and councils (S/Cs) are grouped into 10 Divisions. These groupings are not a result of closely associated technical scope, at least not exclusively. They are meant to divide the total population of S/Cs members somewhat equally. Therefore, some Divisions comprise a single, very large society, while others contain up to nine societies (Divisions IV and X). Division II includes six societies and one technical council, listed alphabetically below (President in parentheses).
1. IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (Akiko Kumada)
2. IEEE Electronics Packaging Society (Jeffrey Suhling)
3. IEEE Industry Applications Society (Ayman El-Refaie)
4. IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society (Shervin Shirmohammadi)
5. IEEE Power Electronics Society (Johan Enslin)
6. IEEE Transportation Electrification Council (Hulya Kirkici)
7. IEEE Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control Society (Debra Coler).
Each of these Societies and the Transportation Electrification Council have a defined scope, which can be found on their respective websites or in the Technical Activities Board Operations Manual, but their names suggest their focus.
So, what is happening within these organizations of Division II? In addition to the thousands of volunteers who operate and manage publications, conferences, educational activities, and a variety of initiatives, Societies and Councils are beginning to work together to share and implement best practices learned from one another. A Technical Activities working group formed by TAB Vice President Don Tan has encouraged Division Directors to work together to share best practices in several areas, such as educational resource sharing, collaborations with regional and sectional activities, and administrative best practices. There are even initial ideas for cross-Society and Council joint events to help strengthen IEEE’s position as the global voice for technology by showcasing our thought leadership and breadth of innovation.
Working Together on Common Projects
Within Division II, there are two outstanding executive directors, Mike Kelly (PELS & TEC) and Pat McCarren (IAS), who are working with me, the Society and Council Presidents, and other officers to identify areas of mutual interest that can benefit from collaboration. One area that was a hot topic in 2025 was the new budgeting process that IEEE has embarked on. This will continue into 2026, along with other areas such as IEEE Fellow nominations/recognitions, conference management and contracting, composition of journal editorial boards, handling of AI impacts on publishing, and others.
The genuine interest and commitment to collaboration shown by Division II’s Societies and Council are a clear sign of a shared vision for progress. As we move beyond the brainstorming phase and translate our plans into concrete actions throughout 2026, our unified efforts in governance, execution, and organization will directly benefit every member. This collective drive strengthens Division II’s—and by extension, the IEEE’s—position as a leader in global technology, ensuring our work continues to inspire innovation and serve the technological community worldwide.
