Dear IEEE Region 5 Members,

March is here, and we are now in full-swing advancing technology for humanity in the Southwest!

We had a productive February, with the IEEE Board Series in Bellevue, Washington, as well as the Educational Activities Miniseries in New Jersey. Region 5 was represented well at these events, and it is exciting to see initiatives we started, like the Section Vitality Dashboards, being adopted at the MGA (Global Membership and Geographic Activities) level! We had over 1000 events in Region 5 across all of our units in 2024, and 2025 is off to a GREAT start. Lots of opportunities to get out there and meet your colleagues at the section, affinity group, student branch, or chapter level! (https://events.vtools./ieee.org )

The big events in March for R5 include IEEE GreenTech in Wichita Kansas (March 26-28^th) and our annual Region 5 Congress and Annual Meeting on Friday, March 28^th in Wichita as well. Students and volunteers attending should complete their registrations ASAP to participate in leadership development tracks, and students competing in our annual Region 5 Student Competitions, March 29^th Registration is still open!

Additionally, there are some cool events this month in Region 5, and across the US, based on our activities. I am thrilled to be attending IEEE Texas A&M’s first semiconductor summit, on April 4^th, in College Station. This student-organized event is open for registration, and we would love to see students and professionals from across our region attend! In addition, the ‘teaching the teachers’ program on semiconductors that Region 5 helped launch last year with support from the IEEE Foundation and On Semiconductor is launching its second year! The first session will be March 18^th in New Jersey, and information on attending (Middle School teachers in particular!) can be found at the QR code below.

The breadth of IEEE is truly amazing – from technology to policy, and anything that our volunteers imagine. As always, thank you all for being part of our IEEE community, and doing your part to advance technology for humanity.

A. Matt Francis, PhD

IEEE Director, Region 5

Got a Bright Idea for IEEE? Join SparkTank!

IEEE Region 5 is calling on R5 OU (Section, Student, Chapter, Affinity Group, etc.) leaders to pitch innovative ideas or successful programs ready to scale! Compete for a $500–$750 program grant by submitting a 5-minute pitch for consideration. The top five entries will be invited to present LIVE at the Region 5 Congress in Wichita on March 29th.

Deadline: Friday, March 21st
Enter here: SparkTank Portal (Indico account required)

Don’t miss your chance to spark change in IEEE!

Region 5 is thrilled to co-sponsor and host PCIC 2025 in the vibrant city of Dallas, TX! Get ready for the Annual IEEE IAS-PCIC Conference—a dynamic gathering of top electrical professionals focused on cutting-edge innovations in installations, operations, and safety. Mark your calendars for September 22-25, 2025.

See you to Dallas for an unforgettable experience!

https://ieeepcic.com/ 

TEMSCON Global 2025, a flagship conference organized by the IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society (TEMS) is dedicated to technology management, innovation, and leadership for a sustainable, flourishing world.

The conference will be held from August 4-7, 2025, in San Diego, California, and welcomes the international community of scholars, practitioners, and leaders within the broad fields of interest of TEMS to submit both full papers and extended abstracts. Accepted and presented submissions will be submitted for inclusion in IEEE Xplore and for indexing in standard databases. Special issues of premier IEEE TEMS journals are also planned. The final extended submission deadline is March 20, 2025.

The IEEE Lone Star Section hosted a “Trends, Technologies, and Issues for Defense and Security — a Contractor’s Perspective” event on February 19. Nils Smith gave a presentation on issues affecting the international defense community. Smith discussed the challenges in availability of technologies (especially semiconductors), cybersecurity, pace of contracting, the modern technology update and fielding cycle, and the impacts of AI from defense against it to its responsible deployment, and their impact on our common defense. Smith is the past Chair of the Lone Star Section. Walt Downing read a proclamation by San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg that recognized the contributions of engineers. Downing is the current Chair of the Lone Star Section.

RSAC Chair Colleen Bailey and RSR Ben Hand hosted the Student Leadership Jam on March 3, sharing valuable insights on managing IEEE reporting, securing rebates, and accessing exclusive benefits for student leaders. If you missed the session or need assistance with student branch tools and activities, feel free to reach out to Colleen at cpbailey@ieee.org or Ben at benhand@ieee.org.

The IEEE UNT Student Branch and IEEE-HKN Lambda Zeta hosted a special presentation by Christopher Sanderson, SMIEEE, SMASQ, at the UNT College of Engineering during Engineers Week. Sanderson’s talk, Standards Son!, provided valuable insights into the critical role of standards in engineering. He also offered an engaging discussion on the history of battery technology, enriching attendees’ understanding of the subject. His expertise and thoughtful presentation were greatly appreciated by all who attended.

Mitch Wagnon of TestEquity LLC and Christian Reyes of Keysight Technologies hosted a hands-on Fox Hunt at the UNT College of Engineering. The event provided attendees with practical experience in RF and signal detection, combining competitive elements with real-world learning. Wagnon and Reyes shared their industry expertise, offering valuable knowledge and enhancing the educational experience for all participants. The support of TestEquity and Keysight was instrumental in making this event a success.

Region 5 played a crucial role in the success of the recent EAB General Meeting, with dedicated members like Case Kirk, Colleen Bailey, and Art Depoian contributing to productive discussions and strategic planning. Their passion and commitment are key to driving innovation in IEEE’s pre-university education initiatives, ensuring we continue to make a lasting impact. For more information on how Region 5 is advancing IEEE’s educational goals, reach out to our Education Activities Chair, John Santiago.

Members of the IEEE Fort Worth Section hosted an engaging and educational booth on Squishy Circuits during a local elementary school’s STEAM Night on February 27. This hands-on activity introduced K-5 students to fundamental electrical concepts in a fun and interactive way. During the event, volunteers demonstrated the difference between conductors and insulators using conductive playdough and non-conductive modeling clay. Students explored how electricity flows, learning how to complete a circuit by creating fun, imaginative designs that powered LED lights. Additionally, students were guided through the process of building their own switches using conductive dough. By manipulating the dough to make and break connections, they discovered how switches control the flow of electricity, allowing them to turn their LEDs on and off. The activity sparked curiosity and excitement, providing young learners with a foundational understanding of basic electrical principles while fostering creativity and problem-solving skills.

Traditional power system protection and control architectures depend on hardwired connections between instrument transformers, power system apparatuses, and intelligent electronic devices. However, advancements in microprocessor-based relaying and network architecture have facilitated the development of digital protection systems. The IEC 61850 standard establishes a framework for managing protection and control systems via digital communication networks. This framework promotes flexible design, enhances interoperability between vendors, improves documentation, and reduces costs. This seminar will explore the components and benefits of digital protection systems as well as the industry’s response to these advancements.

View more about this Tech Talk Series here.

A huge THANK YOU to Sarah Anderson for her outstanding presentation on the Legal Perspectives of AI, which was attended by 255 participants. The talk provided valuable insights into the complex and evolving legal landscape of AI, covering topics from its benefits to the lack of regulations governing its use. Attendees left with a deeper understanding of the risks and laws surrounding AI and practical tips for adopting it in their industries. We appreciate Sarah’s expertise and look forward to future discussions on this critical topic!

Mission Statement:
The Open Source IEEE (OSIEEE) initiative is dedicated to fostering an open, collaborative ecosystem where IEEE members can drive innovation in software, hardware, and open technology solutions. By embracing transparency, shared knowledge, and collective problem-solving, OSIEEE serves as a platform where ideas can evolve freely, unencumbered by unnecessary barriers. Our mission is to create an open space for engineers, researchers, and innovators to build, test, and refine technologies that push the boundaries of what is possible within and beyond IEEE.

Fort Worth Section recently received official approval of the petition to form the IEEE Fort Worth Section Young Professionals Affinity Group

TAMU recently received official approval of the petition to form the Texas A&M University-College Station Circuits and Systems Society Student Branch Chapter in the Houston Section

TAMU recently received official approval of the petition to form the Texas A&M University-College Station (TAMU) Microwave Theory and Technology Society Student Branch Chapter in the Houston Section

John Brown University recently received official approval of the petition to form the John Brown University Computer Society Student Branch Chapter in the Ozark Section

Registration Closes on Sunday, March 16th @ 11:59PM

IEEE USA MOVE is offering a dynamic 1-day Operations Class essential for anyone gearing up for MOVE truck deployment, or with a keen interest in the program. New MOVE members should attend, and it’s highly recommended for those who want to refresh their knowledge. We cover everything from deployment expectations to truck equipment and essential safety procedures. This course spans three modules, each lasting about two hours. You must attend all three modules. With the introduction of a third truck, we’ll delve into the distinctions between the three trucks.

Register for the event here: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/470017

The IEEE-USA MOVE program is looking for qualified volunteers who not only have a deep passion for humanitarian work but also the expertise, wisdom and time to commit in support of our program. As we are in an expansion phase in region 5, we are primarily seeking candidates for crew members and drivers. There are also committee positions available which do not require extensive travel.  Many of these can be done from home.  You do not have to live near a truck to help!

We’d love to learn about your passions, skills, interests, and volunteer time to explore how we can work together to find a good fit for you in our program. If interested, please visit  MOVE-SIGNUP  to complete our MOVE volunteer form.

If you are at all interested, please reach out.  Take a look at the MOVE website, click on “volunteer” and enter your information. Or, contact Ademola Peter Adejokun, (ademola.adejokun@lmco.com) for assistance or questions.

https://move.ieeeusa.org

Available through the MGA Scoop: https://mga.ieee.org/news

R5 EXCOM Roster can be viewed here

IEEE: http://www.ieee.org/

View IEEE Benefits: here

Renew IEEE Membership:  renew

MGA: https://www.ieee.org/communities/geographic-activities.html

IEEE USA: https://ieeeusa.org/

IEEE Region 5: https://r5.ieee.org/

vTools: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/

Collabratec: http://ieee-collabratec.ieee.org/

The Region 5 Newsletter is dedicated to highlighting the incredible work of IEEE members across our region and around the world. Whether it’s successful events, community outreach, or other achievements relevant to IEEE, we want to showcase your contributions to the engineering and technology community.

We encourage you to submit your IEEE news, event recaps, and member achievements to news@ieeeR5.org. Your stories help us celebrate innovation, collaboration, and the impact of IEEE members in advancing technology for humanity. Submissions must be received by the 23rd of each month to be included in the next newsletter.

Stay connected, share your success, and inspire others. Submit your news today!

Follow IEEE Region 5 on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest news, events, and achievements from members across the region: IEEE Region 5 LinkedIn. But don’t stop there—tag @IEEE Region 5 in your posts to share your stories, projects, and accomplishments with our growing community!

Let’s showcase the impact of IEEE members together. #IEEERegion5 #R5