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Engineering medal
Alum honored for role in computer-based protection, control
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
BOSTON – Edmund Schweitzer, III was honored by IEEE with the 2012 IEEE Medal in Power Engineering. He was recognized for his role in the creation of computer-based protection and control technology in of electric power generation, transmission and distribution. IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional association.The medal, sponsored by the IEEE Industry Applications, Industrial Electronics, Power Electronics and Power & Energy Societies, was presented on Saturday, June 30 at the IEEE Honors Ceremony in Boston, Mass.
Schweitzer received his doctorate in electrical engineering from Washington State University and served on the electrical engineering faculties at Ohio University and WSU. He founded Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. in 1982 and is currently president and chief executive officer of SEL, Pullman, Wash.Schweitzer recognized early in his career the importance of computer technology for power protection. Compared to traditional electromechanical protective relays, digital methods enable engineers to locate power outages more quickly and protect against widespread loss of service.
Schweitzer founded SEL to develop and manufacture digital protective relays, driving his research to commercial application. He introduced his inventions to the marketplace in the 1980s and revolutionized safety, reliability and efficiency in generating, transmitting and distributing electric power. By the mid-1990s digital protective relays had replaced the use of electromechanical relays.
Schweitzer’s innovations have allowed engineers of all backgrounds to monitor, control and protect power systems and have led to reduced design work in these systems, flexible operation options and increased reliability.
An IEEE Fellow and member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, Schweitzer’s honors include an Alumni Achievement Award from WSU in 2001 and the Purdue University Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineer Award in 2003.
IEE is the world’s largest technical professional association and is dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Learn more about IEEE at ieee.org.
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