THE INSTITUTESince I joined IEEE as a student member in the 1980s, I have truly benefited from the organization’s educational and career resources. I cannot measure how grateful I am to the organization—from helping me write my senior thesis to guiding me through continuing education and presenting me with opportunities to break into writing. It’s been especially beneficial in the following ways.
TIMELY TECHNICAL INFORMATION
When I was working on my thesis, “Analysis of Linear and Circular Antenna Arrays and Design of Reflector Antennas,” the organization provided me with access to an enormous amount of information and resources including case studies, articles, white papers, and books written by experts in the field.
Such pioneers included the late Robert S. Elliott, an IEEE Fellow, and Senior Member James E. Richie, who significantly influenced my research in array antennas. Their works have inspired many generations of electromagnetic and antenna engineers. Many of the works I cited were published by the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society.
During my 28-year professional journey from engineering to management and consulting, IEEE has played an important role in my professional success. To do my job well, knowledge of and access to IEEE standards was crucial. With the help of IEEE, I was able to publish my studies and take part in many successful IEEE projects.
LIFELONG LEARNING
After earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1989, I knew I had to continue my studies to keep up with the rapid rate of technological innovation.
To that end, I took courses at several engineering schools between 1995 and 2013 to continue learning about emerging trends in electrical engineering, particularly in the areas of power generation and energy distribution systems. During my long journey of education, I always relied on IEEE publications and online resources, including the IEEE Xplore Digital Library, IEEE.tv, and various society websites.
BECOMING A WRITER
One morning in 2014, my relationship with IEEE reached another turning point. I read an article published by The Institute that encouraged members to join its blogging community. I realized that I had benefited from my membership for years and felt it was time to give back.
Something inside me told me I should start writing and share some of my experiences and knowledge with other members, especially young engineers and students. In a few weeks, after conversations with Monica Rozenfeld, associate editor of The Institute, I composed my first blog entry in March 2014 about the importance of having empathy as an engineer. Since then, with great help from the editors of The Institute, I was able to continue to contribute articles and share my thoughts with readers. These have included my perspective, as a father with two daughters, on why girls should try engineering, as well as my experiences working on an amusement park attraction with special-effects mastermind Douglas Trumbull.
Soon I was introduced to the IEEE Public Visibility committee, which seeks to boost awareness of the organization and create a global voice for the engineering profession. On behalf of that group, I started writing for the EE Times, an online magazine that has covered the electronics industry since 1972. I contributed my first article in May: “Engineering Ed Stuck in the Past.”
I am deeply grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to get involved in many IEEE communities and professional activities. Writing has been incredibly helpful to my personal and professional life. I hope my fellow members—especially the younger ones—have gained some lessons from my humbling experiences with the organization.
IEEE Senior Member Qusi Alqarqaz is an electrical engineer with more than 28 years of experience in the power industry. He writes about engineering education and technology, works as a consultant, and mentors students. He contributes to The Institute as well as The Analog, a newsletter for the IEEE Central Texas Section, and IEEE Transmitter. He previously worked in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Qusi Alqarqaz is an electrical engineer, engineering manager, and consultant with more than 33 years of experience in the electric power industry and in the analysis and performance improvement initiatives involving electric utilities. He has worked on electric power projects in Jordan, Qatar, Texas, and Turkmenistan, and the United Arab Emirates. The IEEE senior member writes about technical and management topics relevant to the electric power industry. He is a contributor to IEEE Spectrum and The Institute as well as serves on The Institute’s Editorial Advisory Board.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the United Arab Emirates University. He earned certificates and continuing education degrees from the University of Manchester, in England; the University of Wales, in Cardiff; the University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow; and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in Madison. He also holds a professional development certificate in the analysis of distribution systems from Milsoft Utility Solutions, in Abilene, Texas, and a certificate in power system engineering from ETAP, in Irvine, Calif.
