IEEE Remembers Mel Olken & Stephanie Huguenin – Leaders in Power Engineering & Internet Research
Mel Olken, a pivotal figure in the development of the modern electrical grid and the first Executive Director of the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES), died January 9, 2026, in New York City, at age 92. His passing marks the conclude of a six-decade career dedicated to power engineering and professional leadership within the IEEE.
Olken’s leadership was instrumental in shaping the organizational structure of the PES, beginning in 1995 when he was appointed its inaugural Executive Director. He transitioned to the role of founding editor-in-chief of Power & Energy Magazine in 2002, a position he held until his retirement in December 2016. During his tenure at the magazine, he oversaw its growth into a leading publication for the power engineering community.
Born in 1934, Olken’s professional journey began after earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the City College of New York. He joined American Electric Power in Columbus, Ohio, where he contributed to the design, construction, and operation of a diverse range of power plants – coal, hydroelectric, and nuclear. He rose to the position of Manager, Electrical Generation, demonstrating a practical expertise that would later inform his leadership within the IEEE.
Olken’s involvement with the IEEE spanned over 60 years, beginning with his membership in 1958 and his specific affiliation with the Power & Energy Society in 1973. He was an active volunteer, chairing committees focused on energy development, power generation, and technical council initiatives. His contributions were recognized with the PES Meritorious Service Award in 2009 and the prestigious PES Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, lauded for his “broad and sustained technical contributions to the development of power engineering and the power engineering profession.”
Prior to his leadership roles within the PES, Olken joined the IEEE staff in 1984 as Society Services Director for Technical Activities. He later served as Managing Director of Regional Activities, and as secretary of the IEEE Regional Activities Board, before transitioning to the Power Engineering Society.
The IEEE also recently acknowledged the passing of Stephanie Huguenin, a research scientist and IEEE member who died October 1, 2025, at age 48. Huguenin’s work encompassed network security and Internet Protocol design, and she volunteered with organizations dedicated to internet standards and resource management.