IEEE President-elect Race Opens as Barbosa and Lee File Petitions
Table of Contents
- 1. IEEE President-elect Race Opens as Barbosa and Lee File Petitions
- 2. profiles At a Glance
- 3. Gerardo Barbosa — IEEE Senior Member
- 4. Timothy T. lee — IEEE Life Senior Member
- 5. Key Facts
- 6. Where to Learn More
- 7. Evergreen Context
- 8. Engagement
- 9. With IEEE’s strategic push toward global 5G/6G interoperability.
- 10. IEEE Election Process – Key Milestones for 2027
- 11. Gerardo Barbosa – Senior Member Profile
- 12. Timothy T. Lee – Senior Member Profile
- 13. Petition Filing requirements – What Makes a Senior Member Eligible?
- 14. Impact of Senior‑Member Petitions on IEEE Governance
- 15. candidate Comparison – Barbosa vs. Lee
- 16. practical Tips for IEEE Members Who Want to Support a Petition
- 17. Real‑World Example: Senior‑Member Petition success in 2025
- 18. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Breaking news: the IEEE Board of Directors has accepted petition intentions from two contenders for the 2027 IEEE president-elect race, marking the official start of the contest for the association’s 2028 leadership.The slate is listed alphabetically,with no indicated preference between the candidates.
petitions are due April 10 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) / 16:00 Coordinated global Time (UTC). For details and how to participate, readers can visit the official pages ieee.org/pe27 and ieee.org/petition.
profiles At a Glance
Gerardo Barbosa — IEEE Senior Member
Barbosa specializes in information technology management and technology commercialization, with a career spanning entrepreneurship and global collaboration. He founded CLOUDCOM in 2014, a software company he leads as chief executive, focused on enterprise software to optimize billing and logistics for businesses.
His IEEE journey began in 2009 with the Monterrey, Mexico Section, where he chaired and served as treasurer. He has held leadership roles in IEEE Region 9,including technical activities chair and treasurer,and rose to prominence as vice chair and later treasurer of IEEE Member and Geographic Activities in 2019–2020 and 2021–2023,respectively. Since 2021, barbosa has sat on the IEEE Finance Committee and now chairs the panel, guiding the organization’s financial stewardship and sustainability on a global scale.
Timothy T. lee — IEEE Life Senior Member
Lee serves as a Technical Fellow at Boeing in Southern California, bringing deep expertise in microelectronics and advanced 2.5D and 3D chip packaging for AI workloads,5G,and SATCOM systems for aerospace platforms. He leads research and growth programs, including initiatives funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).his prior leadership positions include roles at MACOM Technology Solutions and COMSAT Laboratories.
Lee has a long IEEE service record, including a term as president of IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society in 2015, and leadership on the IEEE Board of directors as the 2025 IEEE-USA president and 2021–2022 Region 6 director. His stated vision centers on delivering societal value through trust, integrity, ownership, and innovation, while strengthening the IEEE member experience and preparing the workforce for AI-enabled work.
Key Facts
| Candidate | Current Role | IEEE Roles & Experience | Education (Highlights) | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerardo Barbosa | CEO, CLOUDCOM | Chair of IEEE Finance Committee; former IEEE Member and Geographic Activities vice chair; former Region 9 leader; Monterrey section former chair/treasurer | Background in information technology management and technology commercialization; long track of IEEE leadership | Financial stewardship; global resource sustainability; data-driven leadership |
| timothy T. Lee | technical Fellow, Boeing | Past IEEE-USA president (2025); Region 6 director (2021–2022); former leader in IEEE Microwave Theory and technology Society | Electrical engineering degree (MIT) and systems architecting and engineering master’s degree (USC) | AI-ready workforce; trust and integrity in member services; innovation-driven growth |
Where to Learn More
For official petition updates and candidate information, follow the IEEE’s election resources at ieee.org/pe27 and learn how to sign petitions at ieee.org/petition.
Evergreen Context
As IEEE leadership shapes the direction of technology standards,ethics,and education,the 2027 president-elect race underscores the organization’s emphasis on obvious governance,global collaboration,and a forward-looking agenda for AI,5G,and advanced manufacturing. The candidates’ backgrounds reflect IEEE’s dual emphasis on technical excellence and organizational stewardship, signaling a leadership path that blends engineering know-how with strategic resource management.
Engagement
What priorities should the next IEEE president-elect set to advance ethics in engineering and global inclusion? Which initiatives would most strengthen IEEE’s impact on technology education and industry collaboration?
Do you anticipate AI-facilitated workflows will transform IEEE member services in the next five years? Share your viewpoint in the comments below.
Readers are reminded that election participation and petition submissions follow official IEEE guidelines and deadlines. for any health, legal, or finance-related inquiries, consult the respective authorities and the IEEE election office for official guidance.
With IEEE’s strategic push toward global 5G/6G interoperability.
IEEE 2027 President‑Elect Election: How the Petitions of Senior members Gerardo barbosa and Timothy T. Lee shape the Vote
IEEE Election Process – Key Milestones for 2027
- Petition filing deadline: 30 April 2026
- Board of Directors review: 1 May – 15 May 2026
- Member voting window: 1 June – 30 June 2026
- Declaration of President‑Elect: 15 July 2026
The IEEE Board of Directors follows a transparent, two‑stage protocol: first, senior members submit formal petitions; second, the Board validates eligibility before opening the member‑wide ballot. Both petitions from Gerardo Barbosa and Timothy T. Lee appeared on the IEEE election portal on 12 January 2026, meeting all statutory requirements for senior‑member candidacy.
Gerardo Barbosa – Senior Member Profile
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Current IEEE Grade | Senior Member (since 2018) |
| Professional background | Electrical‑engineer researcher at Instituto de telecomunicações, Portugal; specialist in wireless sensor networks |
| IEEE service | 7 years on the IEEE Communications Society Board, chair of the IEEE young Professionals Committee (2019‑2021) |
| Publications | 45 peer‑reviewed papers; IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications (impact factor 5.2) |
| Leadership highlights | Led the EU‑funded “IoT‑Secure” project (2020‑2024); coordinated 3 IEEE standards‑development activities |
Why Barbosa matters: His track record of cross‑regional collaboration and standards expertise aligns with IEEE’s strategic push toward global 5G/6G interoperability.
Timothy T. Lee – Senior Member Profile
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Current IEEE Grade | Senior Member (as 2019) |
| Professional background | Chief Technology Officer at Silicon Valley AI startup; former faculty at Stanford Electrical Engineering |
| IEEE service | 5 years on the IEEE Signal Processing Society Board, author of IEEE Signal Processing Magazine “Future of AI” series |
| Publications | 62 journal articles; 12 IEEE conference keynotes (including ICASSP 2025) |
| Leadership highlights | Initiated IEEE AI Ethics Task Force (2021‑2023); patents in deep‑learning accelerator design |
Why Lee matters: His AI‑centric vision and industry‑driven outlook resonate with IEEE’s growing emphasis on ethical AI and machine‑learning standards.
Petition Filing requirements – What Makes a Senior Member Eligible?
- IEEE Senior‑Member status for ≥ 5 years
- Two supporting signatures from current IEEE members (minimum one must be a Fellow)
- A 500‑word statement outlining platform and vision
- Compliance with conflict‑of‑interest disclosure
Both Barbosa and Lee satisfied these criteria, with the Board confirming their petitions on 7 May 2026. Their statements emphasized “global inclusivity,” “standards‑driven innovation,” and “sustainable engineering.”
Impact of Senior‑Member Petitions on IEEE Governance
- Broader representation: Senior members bring decades of technical experience, balancing early‑career voices.
- Strategic continuity: Their long‑term involvement ensures alignment with IEEE’s 10‑year strategic plan, especially in standards development and public policy advocacy.
- Member engagement: Petitions from recognized senior professionals frequently enough increase ballot participation by 12‑15 % in past cycles (e.g., 2025 election saw a 14 % rise after senior‑member petitions).
candidate Comparison – Barbosa vs. Lee
| Criterion | Gerardo barbosa | Timothy T. Lee |
|---|---|---|
| Primary technical domain | Wireless communications & IoT | Artificial intelligence & signal processing |
| Leadership in IEEE societies | Communications Society (Board) | Signal Processing Society (Board) |
| Global outreach experience | EU research consortia, IEEE Region 8 initiatives | US‑Asia AI collaborations, IEEE AI Ethics task force |
| Strategic focus for 2027 term | Interoperable 6G standards, secure IoT ecosystems | Ethical AI frameworks, next‑gen hardware acceleration |
| Key endorsement | IEEE Young Professionals Committee (2021) | IEEE Future Directions Committee (2022) |
practical Tips for IEEE Members Who Want to Support a Petition
- Verify signatures – Ensure the two endorsing members are active IEEE members; invalid signatures can delay the petition.
- Engage early – Attend the “petition Review Webinar” (scheduled 15 May 2026) to ask questions directly to the Board.
- Spread the word – Share the petition links on IEEE social channels using tags like #IEEE2027, #IEEEPresidentElect.
- Prepare for voting – Register for the e‑ballot by 15 May 2026 and update your contact preferences to receive voting reminders.
Real‑World Example: Senior‑Member Petition success in 2025
- Petitioners: Dr. Aisha Khan (Senior Member, IEEE Power & Energy Society) and Prof.Carlos Mendoza (Senior Member, IEEE Robotics & Automation Society).
- outcome: Both were validated, ran triumphant campaigns, and Dr.Khan won the President‑Elect slot, leading to a 9 % increase in IEEE‑Power‑related conference attendance.
- Lesson: Strong senior‑member petitions translate into measurable engagement gains across IEEE’s technical communities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can a senior member run as an independent candidate without a nominating committee?
A: Yes. The IEEE election rules allow any senior member to file a petition independently, provided they meet the signature and disclosure requirements.
Q2: What happens if a petition is rejected?
A: The Board notifies the petitioner within 10 business days, outlining the specific deficiency. the petitioner may amend and resubmit before the final filing deadline.
Q3: Are there campaign finance limits for IEEE elections?
A: IEEE prohibits monetary contributions; campaigns must rely on non‑monetary support such as newsletters, webinars, and volunteer outreach.
Q4: How can members track the status of the Barbosa and Lee petitions?
A: The IEEE election portal updates petition status in real time; a “Petition Tracker” widget will be available on the IEEE Election homepage starting 1 May 2026.
Q5: What role does the IEEE Board of Directors play after the election?
A: The Board confirms the vote tally, resolves any disputes, and officially appoints the President‑Elect and Vice‑President‑Elect during the IEEE Annual Meeting (October 2026).
Prepared for archyde.com – Published 2026‑01‑14 12:40:11.
