Remembering IEEE Power & Energy Society Leader Mel Olken
Mel Olken Former executive director of the IEEE Power & Energy Society Fellow, 92; died 9 January Olken became the first executive director of the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) in 1995. In 2002 he left the position to serve as founding editor in chief of the societyтАЩs Power & Energy Magazine . Olken led the publication until 2016, when he retired. After receiving a bachelorтАЩs degree in engineering from the City College of New York , Olken was hired as an electrical engineer by American Electric Power , a utility based in Columbus, Ohio. He helped design coal, hydroelectric, and nuclear power plants . While at AEP, he was promoted to manager of the electrical generation department. He joined IEEE in 1958 and became a PES member in 1973. An active volunteer, he chaired the societyтАЩs energy development and power generation committee and its technical council . Olken was elected an IEEE Fellow in 1988 for тАЬcontributions to innovative design of reliable generating stations.тАЭ He became an IEEE staff member in 1984 as society services director for IEEE Technical Activities . From 1990 to 1995 he served as managing director of Regional Activities group (now IEEE Member and Geographic Activities ), before becoming PES executive director. He received a PES Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 for his тАЬbroad and sustained technical contributions to the development of power engineering and the power engineering profession.тАЭ Stephanie A. Huguenin Research scientist IEEE member, 48; died 1 October Huguenin was an administrative
Mel Olken, a renowned leader in the field of power and energy, passed away on January 9th at the age of 92. Olken's legacy is marked by his significant contributions to the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) and the broader power engineering profession. As the first executive director of PES in 1995, Olken played a pivotal role in shaping the society's direction and fostering innovation in the energy sector.
Olken's journey began with a bachelor's degree in engineering from the City College of New York. After graduation, he joined American Electric Power (AEP), a utility based in Columbus, Ohio, where he worked as an electrical engineer. During his tenure at AEP, Olken was instrumental in designing coal, hydroelectric, and nuclear power plants. His expertise and dedication led to his promotion to manager of the electrical generation department.
In 1958, Olken joined the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and became a member of the PES in 1973. His commitment to the organization was evident as he took on various leadership roles, including chairing the society's energy development and power generation committee and its technical council. Olken's exceptional contributions were recognized when he was elected an IEEE Fellow in 1988 for his work on "contributions to innovative design of reliable generating stations."
In 1984, Olken became an IEEE staff member, serving as society services director for IEEE Technical Activities. From 1990 to 1995, he held the position of managing director of the Regional Activities group (now known as IEEE Member and Geographic Activities). His experience and leadership skills culminated in his appointment as the first executive director of PES in 1995.
Under Olken's leadership, the PES flourished, and he remained dedicated to the society until 2002, when he stepped down to become the founding editor in chief of the society's Power & Energy Magazine. He led the publication until his retirement in 2016, continuing to make a lasting impact on the field of power engineering.
In recognition of his broad and sustained technical contributions to the development of power engineering and the power engineering profession, Olken was awarded the PES Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. This prestigious honor underscored his enduring legacy and the profound influence he had on the industry.
In addition to Mel Olken's passing, the engineering community also mourns the loss of Stephanie A. Huguenin, a dedicated IEEE member who passed away on October 1st at the age of 48. Huguenin, a research scientist, was an administrative assistant in the physics and biophysics department at Augusta University in Georgia. According to her obituary, she died of an illness acquired during her volunteer work in India.
Huguenin earned a bachelor's degree in engineering in 1999 from the College of Charleston in South Carolina. During her senior year, she worked as a mathematics and science tutor at the Jenkins Orphanage (now the Jenkins Institute for Children) in North Charleston. Her dedication to both her profession and her community is a testament to her character and commitment.
The passing of Mel Olken and Stephanie Huguenin leaves a void in the engineering world, but their legacies will continue to inspire future generations. Olken's leadership and vision in the power and energy sector, combined with his unwavering dedication to the IEEE and PES, have left an indelible mark on the industry. Meanwhile, Huguenin's selflessness and passion for both her work and her community serve as a reminder of the importance of giving back and making a difference. Both individuals will be deeply missed, but their contributions will endure, shaping the future of power engineering and the broader scientific community.
