Manfred Schindler Wins IEEE President-Elect Election
Manfred Schindler secured the victory in the IEEE presidential election by defeating opponent David Alan Koehler.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Do you trust the election process used by your professional or local organizations?
Manfred Schindler has been elected as the 2027 IEEE president-elect after receiving 16,421 votes. He is set to begin his term as the organization's president on January 1, 2028.
Why it matters
The election of the president-elect determines the future leadership and strategic direction of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. This position is a critical stepping stone, as the individual transitions into the role of IEEE president following their term as president-elect.
Manfred Schindler garnered 16,421 votes compared to 13,874 for David Alan Koehler in the latest election. The candidate also holds 11 patents and previously served as the 2024 vice president of IEEE Technical Activities.
The players
Manfred Schindler
He is the newly elected 2027 IEEE president-elect and a holder of 11 patents.
David Alan Koehler
He is the candidate who competed against Schindler in the IEEE presidential election.
The details
The IEEE Board of Directors nominated Schindler, who has an extensive history of leadership within the organization. His past roles include serving as chair of the IEEE Conferences Committee and president of the Microwave Theory and Technology Society.
Timeline
Schindler served as president of the Microwave Theory and Technology Society in 2003.
He held the position of chair for the IEEE Conferences Committee from 2015 to 2018.
He served as the Division IV director from 2021 to 2022.
He acted as the vice president of IEEE Technical Activities in 2024.
The IEEE Board of Directors will formally accept the Teller's Committee report in November 2026.
Political Context
The election of Manfred Schindler highlights the significant influence exerted by the IEEE Board of Directors governance structure in vetting potential leaders. This centralized nomination process often faces scrutiny from members who advocate for broader grassroots participation in selecting organizational heads.
The transition of the president-elect directly impacts how IEEE members engage with the organization's technical standards and professional development programs. Future policy decisions made under Schindler's leadership will dictate the professional guidelines and resources available to the global engineering community.
The takeaway
The selection of experienced committee chairs for executive roles reflects the organization's preference for long-term internal leadership. Members should monitor future board reports for specific policy shifts that may affect technical division operations.
What happens next
The IEEE Board of Directors is scheduled to accept the Teller's Committee report in November 2026.
Further reading
For additional context on the organization's voting processes, see Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News.
Live Poll
Do you trust the election process used by your professional or local organizations?
