Volunteering is the lifeblood {of professional} communities, providing people the possibility to contribute, develop, and collaborate with wonderful individuals. Partaking with the IEEE neighborhood has been instrumental in shaping my profession since my early days as a pupil member. Through the years, as I transitioned to a full member and later to a senior member, I witnessed firsthand how volunteering can result in private progress and foster significant connections in my life and the lives of others.
I’ve had the chance to work alongside many devoted volunteers, and some of them have left an enduring affect on me. One is Walt Downing of San Antonio. An IEEE life senior member, Downing is the manager vice chairman and chief working officer on the Southwest Research Institute, which conducts scientific discovery, know-how improvement, unbiased testing, and evaluation for its purchasers. Based mostly in San Antonio, SwRI works on autonomous vehicles, cybersecurity, and space exploration, amongst different initiatives.
Walter D. “Walt” Downing
Employer
Southwest Research Institute, in San Antonio
Title
Govt vice chairman and chief working officer
Member grade
Senior member
Alma mater
Southern Methodist College, in Dallas
Collaborating with Walt as an editor and author for the IEEE Systems Council has been a spotlight of my expertise with IEEE. I interviewed him for a video I narrated, “IEEE Systems Council: Charting a Course for the Future on its 20th Anniversary.” I’ve watched him in motion and admired his unwavering dedication to advancing our discipline and supporting others.
As president of the council from 2022 to 2024 and now chair of the IEEE Lone Star Section, which covers central and southern Texas, Walt embodies the spirit of management and collaboration that makes IEEE particular. What conjures up me to share his story is not only his achievements but in addition the profound affect he has made on numerous members of our neighborhood.
I’ve additionally labored with him because the chair of the part’s historical past committee. Regardless of his busy schedule, he persistently dedicates time to mentor and uplift others, showcasing the true essence of neighborhood engagement.
Exploring the historical past of the IEEE Lone Star Part, in Texas, with Walt Downing
Impressed by the Apollo 11 mission to the moon
Rising up in San Antonio, Walt says, he was impressed by know-how from an early age. His father, who labored on the Kelly Air Force Base, now Port San Antonio, allowed him to see plane up shut, sparking his fascination with aviation and aerospace.
It was as a senior in highschool watching the Apollo 11 mission to the moon in 1969 that actually ignited his ardour for engineering, he says. The historic occasion fueled his dream of contributing to vital technological achievements and solidified his want to pursue a profession in a discipline that pushed the boundaries of what was attainable.
These early influences mixed to form his journey, he says, and motivated him to observe a path the place he may make a significant affect by engineering.
Early profession success
Walt’s journey as an engineer started along with his involvement in a cooperative training program at Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, the place he says he gained worthwhile expertise working half time at Kelly Air Drive Base whereas learning electrical engineering. After graduating with a bachelor’s diploma in EE in 1973, he accepted a place as an instrumentation and controls engineer within the petrochemical division of Brown & Root, now a part of KBR, in Houston. After 5 years, he returned to San Antonio to work on the SwRI.
The nonprofit analysis group performed an important function in shaping his profession, he says. It focuses on superior know-how and scientific analysis for NASA and different government-agency purchasers.
That setting, he says, allowed him to embrace challenges when growing microprocessor-based techniques and automatic testing applied sciences.
Inside a couple of years, he was managing a piece specializing in automated take a look at tools for avionics. He helped increase the work into avionics analysis and improvement, finally resulting in his promotion to vice chairman. In 1998 he was promoted to government vice chairman and chief working officer, a job that enabled him to affect quite a lot of technical developments, significantly in automated testing. He labored on early purposes of microprocessors for testing techniques, together with initiatives for the Minuteman missile and avionics upgrades for legacy plane such because the A-10, F-16, and B-52.
As COO, his function permits him to set requirements for reliability and effectivity in engineering, he says.
Reflecting on his profession, Walt identifies pivotal moments that formed his path, equivalent to his resolution to depart Brown & Root for the SwRI.
“Managing a brand new part that grew right into a division was a vital step in my profession,” he says.
Former society president
Walt’s involvement with IEEE started in 1981 by his participation in IEEE AutoTestCon, an annual convention for the aerospace and navy automated take a look at trade. The expertise sparked his ardour for contributing to the engineering neighborhood, he says.
He has held a variety of IEEE volunteer roles through the years, together with serving as president of the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society, the place he’d beforehand served as secretary and vice chairman of technical operations. Throughout his time period as president, he tailored to adjustments introduced on by the COVID-19 pandemic—which led to new methods of connecting with members.
“We began delivering our distinguished lecturers program on-line—which grew to become immensely fashionable,” he remembers. In this system, specialists of their discipline speak to the society’s chapters about their work.
“Get related and keep related to the skilled neighborhood. By no means cease studying about new applied sciences.” —Walt Downing
He’s a previous president of the IEEE Systems Council and a member of its administrative committee. He’s a member of the IEEE–Eta Kappa Nu honor society as effectively.
He additionally has served as a program evaluator for ABET, previously generally known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Expertise.
“Energetic engagement with IEEE maximizes the worth of my membership,” he says. “My involvement has expanded my community globally, creating alternatives to construct relationships with different professionals and showcase my expertise past my office.”
Inspiring the following era
Walt says his motivation for volunteering within the early phases of his profession was to advance professionally. Now, nonetheless, he says he finds success in sustaining the connections he’s made inside the technical neighborhood. His legacy, he hopes, will likely be one in all positively influencing younger engineers and technologists to advance their careers.
He advises younger engineers to become involved with the important thing conferences of their technical fields of curiosity.
“This engagement not solely enriches your profession but in addition retains you related to the evolving panorama of engineering,” he says.
“Get related and keep related to the skilled neighborhood,” he suggests. “By no means cease studying about new applied sciences.”
That type of mindset, he says, can assist stop obsolescence whereas opening doorways to new alternatives and technical credentials.
Walt’s experiences with IEEE illustrate the transformative energy of involvement.
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